Date: 2016-10-12

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara State branch, on Tuesday, charged the three tiers of governments in Nigeria to put in place more strategy that will curb occurrence of mental disorders among Nigerians. Chairman of NMA in Kwara, Dr. Kunle Olawepo gave this charge in llorin, in a statement commemorating 2016 celebration of World Mental Health Day. Tenth day of October every year is set aside by the United Nations to recognise and care for the People being afflicted with mental disorders world wide.

Olawepo, in the statement, said all tiers of governments need to put in place preemptive strategies for disasters management. This measure, he noted, would drastically reduce the number of Nigerians facing psychological challenges in the Country. Olawepo urged governments be proactive in forestalling civil strife and the youth restiveness across the country to further minimise people suffering from mental disorders.

The statement urged governments at all levels to sponsor and support passage of bills aimed at improving mental Health in the Country.

The NMA called for drastic reduction of cost of treatment for people having chronic or long standing mental illnesses.

The NMA appealed to NGOs to offer free treatments for indigent patients suffering from severe mental illnesses. The Association solicited the support of stakeholders in the Health sector for the Rehabilitation Programmmes for those suffering from severe mental illnesses Olawepo cnvassed support from Nigerians at home and diaspora for people with mental health issues in terms of care and de-stigmatization.

The statement advised the managements of both public and private print and electronic media to shun negative portrayal of people with mental disorders in the Country.