MD Hails Buhari For Signing Mental Health Bill

The Medical Director (MD), Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Prof. Monday Igwe, has expressed happiness that by the singular act of signing the long-awaited Mental Health Bill into Law, President Muhammadu Buhari has re-shaped mental healthcare in Nigeria.
Igwe, who is also a seasoned mental health physician, gave the commendation while speaking to newsmen in Enugu, Friday.
The renowned neuropsychiatric doctor and lecturer’s reaction came shortly after it was confirmed that President Buhari had signed the bill into law, thus replacing the Lunacy Act of 1958, which psychiatric doctors before now were subjected to operate with.
According to him, “this is a good one for psychiatry practice in Nigeria. Thanks to our dear President for this wonderful New Year gift.
“I join the entire mental healthcare practitioners, patients, civil society organisations and indeed Nigerians to celebrate this landmark event in the practice and care of persons with mental health problems in Nigeria.
”I also want to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for taking the bold step to re-shape mental healthcare service delivery in our space”.
He noted that a cursory look at the journey of this legislation shows a tortuous part to success, adding that Nigeria’s first mental health legislation, the Lunacy Ordinance, was enacted in 1916 and was revised in 1958.
Igwe further noted that the Lunacy Ordinance provided medical practitioners and magistrates with authority to imprison mentally ill people, noting that the law was enacted primarily to provide custodial care as evidence-based treatment approaches were still lacking at the time.
“The old law is flawed in several ways; firstly, the use of the term “lunacy or idiocy” is derogatory and stigmatizing and does not reflect the current thinking of mental health conditions.
“Secondly, it makes provision only for custodial care within the criminal justice system and not treatment in health care facilities.
“However, these laws have not been amended more than five decades after, despite a huge scientific evidence for cost-effective strategies and the availability of treatment in Nigeria.
“Several attempts in 2003 and 2013 were made to repel the act, with the most recent being in 2019, which is now assented by the President”, he noted.
Igwe said the signed bill is titled: “A bill for an act to provide for the enhancement and regulation of mental health and substance abuse services, protect persons with mental health needs and establishment of national commission for mental and substance abuse services, for the effective management of mental health in Nigeria and for other related matters”.
He noted that the signed bill was divided into twelve parts: “The first part of the bill explains the acts’ purpose and application; the second part explains the procedure for establishing the National Council for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, as well as its function and powers.
ing earlier on Friday, described it as a great relief to the mental health care and practice in the country.

By: Canice Amadi, Enugu