Ahead of the 2015 World Health Day, the Nigeria Association of Psychiatric Nurses, Enugu State Chapter, has called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the Mental Health Act.
Chairman of the union, Mr. Afam Ndu, who addressed journalists, Wednesday, in Enugu, said passage of the act, which had been in the National Assembly for years, would be in the interest of the health sector.
He described as unfortunate “a situation where the country still operates with a mental health act inherited from Britain in 1959”.
According to him, activities for the programme are being packaged in Enugu by the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Association of Psychiatric Nurse of Nigeria, Enugu State Chapter in collaboration with Faculty of Psychiatry and Mental Health Nursing of West African College of Nursing.
Ndu, who said the need for the passage of the act had become expedient in view of the emerging health challenges, noted that “we need the act because rights of the mental patients are very fundamental. It is very shameful that Nigeria do not have mental health law.
“So, in view of this, we are calling on both chambers of the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency pass that Act”.
While calling for more community-based psychiatric programmes and clinics, the union equally urged the relevant authorities to review issues of scar-allowances for nurses.
Giving insight into the activities for this year’s World Mental Health Day, Mr. Ndu, who is also the regional chairman, faculty of psychiatric and mental health nursing, West African College of Nursing, disclosed that there would be “medical outreach programme on Friday October 10, road walk, motorcade, and end with an interdominational church service to be presided over by the Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka”.
He added that “this is a good opportunity to empathize with people suffering from mental illness. This year’s World Mental Health Day is with the theme- ‘Dignity in Mental Health'”.
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