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KWABRE E: Dr calls for attention on mental health

The Head of Psychiatric Unit at the Asonomanso Hospital in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Dr. Raymond Jason Seyram Noagbesenu has called for more supports in the fight against mental health diseases in the district.

Date Created : 11/1/2017 9:29:45 AM : Story Author : Cliff

He said the issue of mental health is so prevalent in the district that measures have to be put in place to bring it to the barest minimum adding that, most people regard such cases as spiritual so do not seek medical attention on time.

He said in most cases, when the patients are affected, their relatives prefer to treat them at shrines, churches, homes, and with imams, with the assumption that they have been accursed.

Dr. Noagbesenu made this known when the District Chief Executive Hon. Nana Osei Assibey Bonsu paid a surprise visit to the hospital on Tuesday morning. He said the unit have therefore devised several means to address the issue but will still need some assistance from the District Assembly to do more.

He added that some of the strategies being employed by the unit are organizing workshops and health talk shows at schools, churches, mosques and other gatherings to educate the general public on the dangers of keeping mental patients at home.

Dr. Noagbesenu also added that the hospital though has been receiving some help from the Member of Parliament and the Assembly, still lack some basic facilities to make the place a better place to receive treatment.

He said the hospital does not have a children ward, forcing authorities to combine both children and women in a single ward. This he said was posing a lot of problems to the hospital since they cannot admit more patients in the hospital at a time. He therefore called on the assembly to as a matter of urgency, come to their aid.

For his part, the District Chief Executive, also thanked the staff for their selfless contribution in saving the lives of ailing patients. He called on them not to relent on their efforts and promised that the Assembly will continue to assist them in their duties, adding that plans are far advanced to give the hospital a befitting facelift as the district hospital.

The DCE was accompanied by the District Coordinating Director, Mr. Peter Antwi Boasiako, District Cultural Officer, Mr. Stephen Anderson, District Information Officer, Mr. Nicholas Obeng Twum, District Protocol Officer, Mr. Richard Darko and some pressmen.