[ 2014-08-31 ]

Government to establish mental unit at Sunyani Hospital
Sunyani, Aug. 30, GNA - Mr Justice Samuel Adjei,
Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister has advised
the public to seek medical treatment for family
members and friends with mental health problems at
a health facility before sending them to prayer
camps.
He pointed out that it is better to seek early
treatment at a health facility before the
situation deteriorates.

Mr Adjei gave the advice when cutting the sod for
work to begin on a GH¢ 50,000 Mental Health Unit
at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital in Sunyani.

He expressed concern about the condition of mental
health patients at prayer camps, some of whom had
been chained to trees when drugs are available to
treat them, adding that, “Prayer is good but has
to be done well to make a positive impact”.

Mr Adjei urged relatives of mental health patients
and the public to accept them back into society
after treatment and also support them.

Mr Joseph Yere, Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinator
of Mental health, noted that, most of the mental
patients especially the youth, return to the
psychiatric unit sometimes in worse condition due
to drug abuse.

He explained that the patients leave the unit well
and normal but return to drugs abuse to worsen
their conditions.

“Most of the mentally deranged people roaming
the streets have been treated, some were referred
to the Pantang hospital but were later seen on the
streets with the same or worse conditions because
of drugs abuse,” Mr Yere added.

He advised family members to endeavour to get
closer to mental patients after treatment and
monitor them to stay away from drugs.

Mr Gabriel Benarkuu, Executive Director of Mission
of Hope, an NGO on Mental Health, appealed to
individuals and philanthropists to assist in
bringing quality health services to mental
patients in the municipality.

Source - GNA

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