…

A former power minister, Professor Chinedu Nebo, on
Monday said the federal and state governments have
not provided medical attention to about 64 million
Nigerians who suffer from mental illness.

Nebo spoke during the Second Public Lecture organised
by the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, in
collaboration with the West African College of Nursing.
Speaking on the theme ‘Psychiatric and mental health in
Nigeria: challenges and prospects,’ Nebo noted that,
according to medical scholars, out of a population of
160 million or thereabouts, “64 million Nigerians suffer
from one form or the other of afflictions of mental
illness,” which deserved attention.

Nebo, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka, pointed out that, whereas government
had done much in the area of primary health care,
nothing had been done to address mental health
challenges.

He also noted that Nigerians were not adequately
informed about mental health issues.

“Nigerians still grapple with many social challenges,
including poverty, high level of unemployment and
other social pressures.

“The prevalence of these situations have been escalated
by the fact that there is high level of poor knowledge
and understanding of the malaise of mental health
disorder and the positive treatments required by the
growing population of mentally ill patients,” he said.
He identified causes of mental illness to include genetic
composition, neurological and psychological
experiences and environmental stresses.

He faulted what he described as “the belief that many
Nigerians seem to hold that mental disorder is a result
of supernatural forces and, therefore, only responds to
cure through traditional practices and supernatural
incantations.”

Nebo urged Nigerians to give up such beliefs and “face
the realities of modern conditions, which in fact,
produce the stresses that lead to different levels of
mental conditions.”

The former power minister called for adequate funding
for research and training of mental health manpower.
Nebo equally canvassed the provision of community
based mental health care services, total integration of
mental health care into the primary health care system
and periodic review of legislation governing the care of
the mentally ill.

The Chief Medical Director of the Federal
Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Jojo Onwukwe,
said the institution has a staff strength of about 1000
workers, including eight consultant specialist
psychiatrists, more than 400 psychiatric nurses and 27
resident doctors.

http://www.punchng.com/news/64-million-nigerians-suffer-from-mental-illness-nebo/

seun lalasticlala

what percentage of the 64 million are nairalanders?

By their comments, you shall know them

"Nigerians still grapple with many social challenges,
including poverty, high level of unemployment and
other social pressures"....Caused by ?

1. PDP
2. Jonathan
3. Prof. Nebo (for not making the impact with power improvement)

Nonsense useless opposition party and their members

Dem plenty for here sef

APshit.

Sadly but true, many Nigerians needs medical help

ladyF:
what percentage of the 64 million are nairalanders?

By their comments, you shall know them

90% and you are one of them.

One particular region of Nigeria would form over 85% of these mentally disturbed people in Nigeria

How else can we explain it when Igbos say they want Biafra and call Nigeria a zoo but the next minute, they abuse Buhari and APC for not appointing Igbos in his administration in the same Zoo country?

Nnamdi Kanu said IPOB have the most sophisticated military weapons the world has ever seen and they will destroy Nigeria in a heartbeat but Yesterday 3 of his men were killed by Naval officers (rightly so too) and what was Kanu's response? We will revenge when the time is ripe!

Is revenge an orange? It is not ripe yet? Igbo people and mouth sha

Dr Osuji knows his people very well. Igbos are lunatics

That explains why we have a lot of sai buhari chanters

Ezenwammadu:
That explains why we have a lot of sai buhari chanters

Gbam!

K

Demdem is a sure candidate! The guy don kolo. . .as in raving lucy lucy. . lol