Maryam Aminu
The past few years have been a time of adaptation to major changes, especially in terms of mental health. As a Nation, we have faced disruptive and stressful events including kidnapping, financial stressors, insurgency, a high level of violence situations that many were unprepared to deal with.
Many factors have come to surface in the recent years that are stress- and anxiety-inducing. Protecting our physical and mental wellbeing is paramount not only to the quality of our lives in general, but also our ability to function at work. Due to the Minister’s passion for the well-being of Nigeria Youth, she spoke about her commitment to ensuring Nigeria Youth enjoys sound mental health.
The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim made the disclosure at the Nigerian Air Force Conference and Suites, during a ministerial roundtable and launching of policy document on mental health, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Thursday 23rd November, 2023 in Abuja
Dr. Ibrahim described the National Mental Health Act of 2021 as a milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to mental health, which provisions for the promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of mental health conditions.
She said the key provision of the act include Integration of mental health into primary healthcare, protection of the rights of persons with mental health conditions, and strategies for community based mental health services. Adding that it is pivotal to include mental health in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
She called on all stakeholders to collaborate and tackle the challenges of mental health . She said, “it is time to draw all stakeholders together to engage in conversation surrounding mental health as it is fundamental to overall health care.”
The Minister noted that the theme of the conference, ” Achieving Universal Health coverage for mental health,” was apt because the mental health of a person affects how he thinks, feels, and acts adding that it is the first step towards a healthy society.
She observed that achieving universal health coverage for mental health means ensuring that all Nigerians have access to quality mental health services without facing financial hardship.
She disclosed that the Ministry was planning to establish a professional department that would be dedicated to the mental well-being of the youth.
Dr. Ibrahim acknowledged that implementation, collaboration, and sustained efforts are key to realizing the vision.
Also Speaking,the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, while launching the policy document on mental health, said that his Ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, facilitated the process of enacting the National Mental Health Act to promote and protect the rights of persons with mental health conditions.
He therefore encouraged all healthcare practitioners and facilities to take advantage of the opportunity to improve their standard of care for people with mental health conditions in Nigeria.
In his goodwill message delivered via Zoom, the Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pledged the support of his organisation to Nigeria in her stride towards a healthy mental condition in the country, noting that there is no health without mental health.
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