Rivers Plans New Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital

The Rivers State Government, says that arrangements for the building of a new neuro-psychiatric hospital of international standard to cater for people with mental disorders has reached advanced stage.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker disclosed this at a programme to mark this year’s World Mental Health Day in the state at the Rivers State Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt, Monday.

Dr. Parker stated that the need to build a new neuro-psychiatric hospital became necessary in order to provide quality healthcare to people with mental disabilities.

The health commissioner said, the new hospital when completed would be renamed after late Senator Ibiapuye Martins-Yellow Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, who was one time head of the management of the hospital.

Dr. Parker expressed dismay at the state of disrepair of the hospital and lack of infrastructural and basic amenities and assured that rather than renovate the place, government would in the meantime, provide basic amenities such as security, water and electricity to keep the hospital running.

“Its true the place is yet unpainted, the buildings are dilapidated. There is nothing in this hospital I see apart from plastic chairs and tables, I don’t see any other thing that is used for treatment of patient”, he said.

The commissioner also said that the free medical programme by the state government for all taxpaying residents of the state would be extended to the neuro-psychiatric hospital, where he said would also include their feeding.

In his welcome address, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Michael Osika, lamented the long neglect of people with mental disorders and the neuro-psychiatric hospital.

According to him, “For a very long time the world has ignored mental health. Mental disorders are far more common than was thought”.

Speaking on the theme for this year, celebrations. The Great Thrust: Investing in Mental Health, Dr. Osika said management of mental health comes with a huge social, economic, environmental and financial cost, both to the individual and society.

He also listed out some of the challenges facing people with mental disorders which include, discrimination, stigmatisation and loss of livelihood which he observed brings about a huge reduction in productivity.

He further lamented that there exists a huge gap between treatment availability and prevalence of the disorder and added that World Health Organisation (WHO) projects that 20 per cent of the society, would develop one form of mental problem or the order in their life time.

He said that the Rivers State Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital lacked equipment and basic facilities such as security, electricity and portable water and added that with those in place, early treatment of the mentally ill would be facilitated.

Tonye Nria-Dappa