Stop Stigmatization Reports On Mental Health Patients, Aro Neuropsychiatric Provost Charges Media

ABEOKUTA – The Provost and Chief Medical Director, Neuropsychiatrist Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr. Paul Agboola has appealed to the media to avoid sensational reports that may stigmatize mental health patients and further subject them to public ridicule.

Dr. Agboola made the appeal on Wednesday at a press conference to disclaim media reports of an attack on nurses and staff of the hospital by a patient.

The Provost insisted that, no nurse was bitten by a patient, nor demonstration by patients.

He urged the press to seek accurate information to avoid sensational reporting.

Agboola highlighted the dedication of the hospital staff and their role as first responders to psychiatric emergencies adding that the majority of patients are peaceful and cooperate with healthcare personnel.

His words “Majority of our patients suffering from mental disorders are not violent and are peace loving people who usually cooperate well with our attending health care personnel who sacrificially contribute to their treatment before discharge to the community.

“Our dedicated staff are proud to be among the first responders in cases of medical and psychiatric emergencies in the country; indeed, when people in the community feel threatened or unsettled by such emergencies, they call on us for the necessary interventions.

“At this point, I wish to state that the event in question was wrongly reported by some online news outlets in a way that stigmatizes persons living with mental health conditions.

“The general public needs to know that no patient engaged in biting of any hospital staff nor is it true that three nurses were attacked on that particular day. Furthermore, there was no public demonstration or protest by the patients in the hospital as had been erroneously reported”.

The Provost identified the challenge of constant power supply as a significant issue for the hospital, with a large portion of the budget spent on diesel.

“The issue of constant 24 hour power supply was identified as a major challenge to the hospital. Sadly, this is a common problem. Currently, the hospital management spends a considerable proportion of the overhead allocation from the Federal Ministry of Finance on part payment for diesel purchase monthly.”

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for a proposed special intervention through the Sustainable Development Goals office, which aims to address the power supply issues with solar-powered systems in federal hospitals.

In another development, the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) has called for the implementation of the Mental Health Act signed into law in 2023 by the federal government, to ensure individuals with mental health challenges have access to quality healthcare services and protection from discrimination.

The Mental Health Act was signed into law in 2023 by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

The Mental Health Act is a law that tells people with a mental health disorder what their rights are and how they can be treated.

Speaking at a workshop organized by the APN in collaboration with the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun state capital the Association’s National President, Prof. Taiwo Jemes Obindo, advocated for the federal government to take swift action in domesticating the act.

He said the association is also advocating for increased funding to establish a dedicated Department of Mental Health within the Federal Ministry of Health and the creation of a Mental Health Fund to provide vital resources.

Prof. Obindo stressed that domesticating the Mental Health Act is crucial to prevent marginalization and stigmatization of individuals with mental health challenges.

He urged the federal government to take swift action to ensure all citizens have access to inclusive care and support.

The APN president highlighted that some states, like Lagos and Ekiti, have already domesticated the Act, and others are in the process.

However, he emphasized the need for the federal ministry of health to lead the way by establishing a Department of Mental Health Services, a Mental Health Fund, and a Mental Health Assessment Committee to drive implementation nationwide.

The National President said “Domesticating the Mental Health Act is crucial for ensuring that individuals with mental health challenges are not marginalized or stigmatized. We urge the federal government to take action and ensure that all citizens have access to inclusive care and support.

“ We now have a humane mental health act that speaks to the rights of those who have mental health conditions. Speaks to care for them. Their right to access to quality care. Nobody should discriminate or stigmatize them, the right to cooperate and to relate well. They must have appropriate and proper care until the person is insightful enough so it’s a whole package.

“The federal ministry of health needs to implement the act , yes we have some states where the act is currently effective, states like Lagos and Ekiti and there are states that are in the process of having it domesticated but we should start from the head, if the head is able to implement it, have the department of mental health services established in the ministry, have the mental health fund, have the mental health assessment committee, then you can then be able to push the states and the local governments.