NGO donates furniture to psychiatric units

Wa, May 3, GNA - The Centre for People's Empowerment and Rights Initiatives (CPRI), a non-governmental organisation, has donated executive tables and other furniture to the Upper West Regional Health Directorate to support the various psychiatric units in the districts.

The items comprising 20 tables, 35 chairs and 11 cabinets, costing GH₵ 24,700, was funded by the UK Department for International Development.

The NGO, a major implementing partner of BasicNeeds -Ghana in the field of mental health is currently executing a project entitled: 'Support the government of Ghana to build a national mental health system that effectively and efficiently responds to the mental needs of the population'.

Mr Seeninyin Begyelnye, Programme Adviser of CPRI, who donated the items at a ceremony in Wa, said mental health is an issue that must be taken very seriously because every person is at risk.

He said people suffering from mental illness usually have their productivity lowered and affects the economy directly.

The CPRI Programme Adviser said government is doing its bit to improve the mental health situation but much more needs to be done particularly in the provision of medication for patients and creating healthy working environment for the mental health staff at all levels.

He said the passage of the mental health act into law is in the right direction, however the implementation of the key provisions of the law is more important.

He said the CPRI believes that when people suffering from various mental situations are introduced to medication and accepted by the society, it would help them recover and contribute positively to the development of Ghana.

'Just as we advocate…care and dignity of the mentally ill and epileptics in society, we also believe that the mental health staff should also have a befitting work environment…to render the needed professional services to their clients', Mr Begyelnye pointed out.

Dr Theophilus Owusu-Ansah, Deputy Director, in charge of Clinical Care, who received the items thanked CPRI for the kind gesture.

He said mental health nurses have been posted to all districts in the region.

He called for the training of more mental health nurses to take cater for the health needs of mentally ill persons in the communities.

Dr Owusu-Ansah appealed to the few nurses manning the facilities to team up with their colleagues to carry out their work.

He asked non-governmental and civil society organisations as well as donor countries to support in the provision of quality drugs for psychiatric units and means of transport to facilitate the movement of personnel.

Mr Eric Dakora, an Administrator at the Wa Regional Hospital urged the staff at the facilities to use the furniture for the comfort of clients and for quality health delivery.

In a related development CPRI and BasicNeeds-Ghana presented working tools and equipment to 39 stabilised mentally ill and epileptic persons and their care givers.

GNA