The Upper East Regional Health Directorate has inaugurated a seven member committee to champion mental health service delivery in the region.
They are expected to achieve this through “Operation clear the street of the mental ill” in the region.
The seven sub- committee members are; Mr. Sobsar Taawele retired Psychiatry and Chairman of the committee, Mr. Edem Quarshie Ameglah Regional Mental Health Coordinator, Dr. Joseph Opare DDPH, Ms Yvonne Wepela Wonchua, Mr. Hamidu Haruna, Regional Coordinator of Social Welfare, Mr. Abaa Roger Executive, Director of LOAD and Ms Cecilia Azabu.
At the inauguration in Bolgatanga, Deputy Director of Health Services, Mr. Peter Boateng said “Operation clear the street of the mental ill started last year in our region. This is a programme where we identify mentally challenged and deviants on the streets, we pick up and use our own resources to treat them and when they are back we integrate them with their families and into the society.”
He stated that, from January to October this year, three (3) out of a total of 14 mentally ill vagrants from Bolgatanga and Bawku municipalities were identified, stabilized and integrated with their families whilst the rest are undergoing treatment under the programme.
Mr. Boateng bemoaned the erroneous association of mental health to “madness” coupled with discrimination and stigmatization adding that such things hinder timely treatment.
He admonished members of the committee to coordinate to ensure proper health care delivery for the mentally ill.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, Dr. Akwasi Osei said 70 mentally ill patients have benefited under the programme across the nation and was optimistic that with adequate funding Ghana is capable of clearing the streets off the mentally ill within the next 5 years.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Daniel Syme lauded the initiative and assured the committee of the regional coordinating council support to achieving the objectives of the programme.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citmfonline.com/Ghana