Prof. Igwe
The medical director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Prof. Monday Igwe has said that the hospital has finalized plans to commence operations in Orlu, Nnewi, Aba and 12 other senatorial districts in the five states of the Southeast.
Igwe, who has just been reappointed for a second term in office by President Muhammadu Buhari, spoke to reporters in Enugu upon his assumption of office for his final term, saying the essence of the outposts was to make access to mental health services easier for the people of the Southeast.
He disclosed that nine out of the 15 proposed outposts had been completed and equipped and would be operational immediate with ambulances readily available to convey patients to Enugu in major cases.
Igwe said: “This hospital is the only psychiatric facility in the entire Southeast region. It is also the only facility that is made to train doctors and nurses in psychiatrist. It is also the only facility that offers research in terms of mental health in the Southeast. It is also our mandate to give clinical services to people that have mental illnesses.
“The hospital also is available for the people of Southsouth and some parts of Northcentral regions of the country. So, if we don’t do well, we will be leaving Nigerians to suffer. That’s why we want to make this place to be the best and centre of excellence in mental health practice.
“There are a number of ways to actualize this. Since many people live very far away from Enugu State, we want to make sure that our 15 newly built outposts in Southeast is operational.
“We have ensured that each of the 15 senatorial districts in the Southeast has one outpost. We have successfully completed and equipped nine of the outposts while the rest are still ongoing.
“Those ones we have completed are going to be activated. We are going to post our staff there.
“Shortage of manpower was delaying us from posting staff there. But we have got new set of staff. Nurses were recently recruited. We’re going to post them there.
“The essence is for our people to be able to access mental health facilities closer to their homes. People don’t need to come from the far end of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and Anambra states to Enugu for psychiatric treatments. Our outstation staff can handle the minor cases. Major cases can be referred to Enugu with our ambulances very ready to convey the patients.
“That is our priority in this second term. I’m sure that making mental health accessible is one of the priorities of this present government. They want to make health accessible to the people.
“I’m happy that President Muhammadu Buhari has given priority and huge budget to health in the last couple of years especially the COVID-19 intervention”.
