A pro-mental health organization, Basic Needs- Ghana has provided free mental health care for hundreds of mental health patients in the Ajumako District Hospital, in the Central Region.
Beneficiaries under the programme with funding support from UK’s Department for International Development are also expected to get technical assistance from the organization to engage in income generation activities.
The Programs Officer of Basic Needs- Accra, Sunday Anaba in an interview said the training is to equip the beneficiaries acquire skills that will allow them engage in other economic activities to earn a living,
“We assist them to form groups, may be 10 to 30 in each group, and offer them continuous training to acquire some skills in the areas each individual best fit, this will many to buy their own after may be the programme comes to an end,” he said.
Some of the beneficiaries of the program were appreciative of the gesture. They said the move has relieved them off the burden in meeting up with costs in catering for their relatives and loved ones.
Father of a 20-year old epileptic daughter, Mr. Kwesi Frimpong, expressed concern at how the high cost of mental health drugs coupled with its scarcity on the market posed serious threat to treatment. This he said sometimes forced patients to take below the prescribed dose.
“The Ankaful hospital used to give us but now they have stopped so we have to get it from outside but that one too is too expensive, but these people [Basic Needs] say they would help us, we’re very happy we thank them for reducing our burden,” he said.
The programme was on the theme: “Support the government of Ghana build a national mental health system that effectively and efficiently responds to the mental health needs of the population.”
Meanwhile similar outreach activities have been conducted at places including Abura Dunkwa, Assin Fosu, Cape Coast Metropolis and Kasoa all within the Central Region.
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Source: GNA