Since his assumption of office after his reappointment, the establishment of Mental Health Department and befitting structure was at the front burner, in view of myriads of human related problems characterised by either Mental Health related diseases and the need to address it through treatment and prevention.
For Professor Bisala Ekele aside prioritizing the establishment of the department of Mental Health at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja , UATH he ensured the erection/ construction of a befitting structure that will house the entire department, the first of its kind not only in the North Central geopolitical zone, but also to address series of mental related ailments at the Federal Capital Territory FCT, the nation’s capital.
In line with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and universal health coverage , the federal government ensured the early completion and commissioning of the gigantic edifice in July this year , 2024 that led to the utilization of the new edifice.
The new department charged with the examination and re-examination of all mental health related ailments has since commenced interfacing with patients from various walks of life in earnest.
In view of the prevailing and wider area of mental health that is all encompassing from the diseases , ranging from depression, addiction, indulgence among many other approaches on human lives , the new department had become in tandem with the present realities.
While commissioning the edifice in July this year, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social welfare ,Dr Mohammed Ali Pate said the establishment of the new mental health department in the tertiary health institution will further promote a healthy environment and consolidate the removal of tariff by the federal government recently on medical equipment, so as to reduce the cost of treatments for all ailments.
Pate who commended the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Professor Bisala Ahmed Ekele said the establishment has justified the huge investment government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is making towards ensuring a healthy society free of all ailments.
He said the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Health will support the new mental health department with up to date and modern equipment that will reduce to the barest minimum all cases of mental disorders prevalent in Nigeria.
He congratulated the management of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital for leading from the front by the establishment of a full fledged mental health department in the hospital and the best in the Northern State.
Pate disclosed that with the establishment, no doubt the high presence of people in the FCT, the North Central geopolitical zone and other zones will get adequate attention from the new department.
While soliciting for more supports towards the expansion of the hospital beyond the present scope, Ekele appreciated both public and private sector supports to the development of the hospital in the last few years.
Ekele reiterated the commitment of the management of the hospital in tackling all mental health related diseases among many others, saying the new department will reduce to the barest minimum all mental health related cases not only in the North Central, but as the largest tertiary health facility in the FCT, the new facility, will also serve the nation’s capital .
He said the idea of the establishment of the new mental health building was as a result of glaring need , grwoing cases of mental health related problems and the desire of Nigerians to seek for medical solutions in the hospital.
He said the multi million naira edifice commenced few years ago was part of the capital projects facility provided by the federal government to the hospital in the previous years.
Also , during the visit of the House of Representatives committee on Health , the Chairman, House committee on Health, Rt Honourable Amos Gwamna Magaji also in unison commended the establishment of the mental health department and facility in the hospital, stating that the problems arising from mental disease cannot be overlooked in view of the social , economic and political as well as personal consequences arising from the ailement and Nigerians .
He reassured that the National Assembly will do anything possible to expand the facility, so as to provide more solutions to the new area of mental related problems in the country.
While promising to attract more development and provision of health facilities to the hospital, the National Assembly will be looking towards the expansion of the hospital to serve more patients who are daily trooping into the hospital for medical attention of all spheres.
With the new mental health department in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, UATH, no doubt the issue of the prevalent and growing mental related ailments will be attended to now and in the nearest future.
*ABUBAKAR YUSUF can be reached on [email protected].
