Stakeholders within the psychological well being sector have known as on the Kano State Government to cultivate the National Mental Health Act to enhance entry to psychological healthcare and defend the rights of individuals with psychological well being situations.
They additionally urged the federal government to extend funding, combine psychological well being companies into major healthcare centres and recruit extra professionals to handle the scarcity of personnel.
The stakeholders made the calls for in a communiqué issued on the finish of an engagement organised by the Positive Pathways Initiative to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Day in Kano.
They known as for coordinated and adequately funded interventions to strengthen psychological healthcare and psychosocial assist, significantly in underserved communities.
The communiqué urged the federal government to develop a complete framework for offering psychological well being assist throughout emergencies, disasters, conflicts, displacement, gender-based violence and human trafficking.
The stakeholders additionally beneficial strengthening the state’s social safety system to supply specialised psychiatric care, rehabilitation, baby and adolescent psychological well being companies and substance-use remedy.
They known as for scholarships for college kids pursuing psychiatry and associated disciplines, alongside the recruitment and retraining of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, counsellors and social staff.
Speaking after the occasion, the Executive Director of PPI, Roquaya Tofa, mentioned the organisation had sustained its advocacy for the domestication of psychological well being laws in Kano.
Tofa defined that PPI drafted the Kano State Mental Health Bill in 2022, earlier than the National Mental Health Act was signed into regulation in 2023.
She mentioned the organisation subsequently convened a civil society organisations’ validation assembly and submitted the invoice alongside an advocacy report highlighting challenges confronted by inmates requiring psychological healthcare in correctional amenities.
According to her, PPI has written to former and present Speakers of the Kano State House of Assembly, in search of legislative assist for the invoice.
She added that the organisation had additionally approached the state governor and engaged related stakeholders, to debate the proposed domestication of the regulation.
Tofa mentioned efficient laws would defend the rights and dignity of individuals with psychological well being situations, enhance entry to remedy and deal with stigma and discrimination.
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