Kaduna says mental health services are expanding across general hospitals and PHCs

Kaduna State says it is extending mental health services to all 30 general hospitals and primary healthcare facilities across its 23 local government areas.

Governor Uba Sani said mental health screening was already part of routine maternal and child healthcare, while a first group of 100 doctors, nurses and pharmacists from 10 general hospitals had been certified under the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).

Sani’s message was delivered by Health Commissioner Umma K. Ahmad at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa on Friday during activities marking World Mental Health Day.

The governor said integrating mental healthcare into primary and secondary services would bring care closer to residents. He described the arrangement as a partnership between the federal hospital and the state government.

The hospital’s medical director, Professor Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u, said it had worked with the Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency to train multidisciplinary health workers from primary healthcare centres across all 23 council areas.

Sani also highlighted the hospital’s telepsychiatry programme, saying it allowed patients to receive care remotely and specialists to support workers in other facilities.

Armiya’u said the hospital had introduced a digital patient card carrying biodata, medical history, treatment records and appointment information. She said it also supported electronic payments.

The medical director urged residents to listen to people who needed to talk, seek professional help when necessary and treat others with understanding.

Sources: Daily Post, Daily Trust