Email Us : info@kisumu.go.ke | Toll Free Number: 0800 720 575

County Government of Kisumu

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Kisumu County
    • Visit Kisumu
  • County Structure
    • County Executive Members
      • County Executive Members 2022 – 2027
    • County Assembly
    • City of Kisumu
    • County Departments
  • Resources
    • Downloads
    • Public Service Board
    • Job Vacancies
    • International Trade Procedures
    • Speeches and Press Releases
    • County Newsletters
    • Quick Links
      • County-Pro
      • E-Citizen
      • County HelpDesk
      • Visit Kisumu
    • Projects
    • Tenders
    • Gallery
      • Videos
      • Photos
  • News
  • Contact Us
STAFFMAIL

Bridging gaps in mental health care access.

Tuesday, 12 October 2021 / Published in News Item

Bridging gaps in mental health care access.

Presidential advisor on mental health Dr Frank Njenga, The Governor of Kisumu Prof; Anyang’ Nyongo’ , Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili and the Chief Officer Health Dr Gregory Ganda and other guest, receives a brief from JOOTRH’s CEO Dr Gorge Rae during the commemoration of world mental health day .

By Lorraine Ayango                                  October 10th 2021

The world mental health day was commemorated with calls to address disparity in access to mental health care.

This year’s theme being ‘Mental health in an unequal world’, provided a platform not only to have conversations around unequal access to mental healthcare but also look for solutions.

The impact of covid-19 has also impacted on the increase of mental illness as some have lost their lively hoods.

During the event hosted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching Referral Hospital, gaps such as lack of trained personnel in mental health care, stigma and discrimination subjected upon the mentally ill were addressed.

Dr Frank Ngenga, the presidential advisor on mental health, stood in for Hon Mutahi Kagwe the cabinet secretary as the chief guest during the celebrations.

Dr Njenga said that stigma greatly limits access to care and decreases quality of life for individuals affected by mental health disorders adding that lack on investments in mental health is also a major concern.

Dr Njenga also announced that plans are underway to set up six regional centers of excellence on mental health noting that already the work going on to address mental health at JOOTRH increases its probability of being one of the centers.    

He pointed out that JOOTRH’s  MAT wellness centers is offering world class services on mental health  and called upon the civil society to continue supporting mental health interventions.    

He said that gaps created in resources allocation on the account of covid 19 has been a major challenge in the management of mental health in the past one year.  

“We do not have enough professions in the field of mental health, the entire Kenya has only 500 specialized mental health workers, I call upon the community health workers to raise awareness on mental health.” Prof; Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Governor Kisumu County emphasized.

He also threw the challenge to Kenya medical training school, to train specialized mental health care workers who should be stationed in all facilities from level one adding that it would help in early detection of mental illness. 

While appreciating out reaches done through the radio stations, he said “We need to do more, not everyone has been reached.”  He added

“Mental illness is an illness just like any other disease, there is no reason to treat people with mental illness differently.” Dr James Nyikal, member of the health committee in parliament emphasized.   

“The biggest sign and symptom are lack of insight, they do not realize they are sick, so do not expect them to take themselves to hospital.” Dr Nyika added.

Dr Nyikal noted that there are a myriad of reasons that trigger mental health, noting that it’s important to identify them and address them.      

 Nacada representative, Dr Yvyone Olando gave worrying statistics indicating that data from Nyanza is above the national average, while national percentage of bhang abuse is one percentage, Kisumu indicators are at two percent.

The national figures for changaa abuse stand at 2.6 percent, while in Nyanza it’s at 5.6 percent, abuse on cannabis sativa is 0.8 percent while in Nyanza its 1.8 percent.

She said that Nacada is willing to partner with Kisumu County to set up a rehabilitation center in bid to intervene in mental health care provision.    

Red cross Secretary General Dr Asha Muhammed underscored the fact that mental health needs to be normalized, and in doing this a lot more needs to be done to sensitize communities, families, couples and support people.

“Covid -19 has disrupted mental health, through it the demand for health care has risen and brought in the for front what was already brewing” Dr Asha said.

She pointed out the need for capacity building of staff who are heath care workers, adding that Red-cross has been having online engagements to highlight and address inequalities in bid to better mental health. 

Also present during the function were Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili, WHO country representative, Dr Julie Nabyonga, Director General for health, Dr Patrick Amoth, Kisumu County Women representative Hon Rosa Buyu, Dr Gregory Ganda, Kisumu County Chief Officer health and JOOTRH’s CEO Dr George Rae among other guest.             

Share this Post
Tagged under: JOOTRH, WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020

Kisumu Neurosurgical Camp

Kisumu County Facebook Feeds

County Government of Kisumu

Kisumu County Twitter Feed

Tweets by KisumuCountyKE

Quick Links

  • Careers
  • Tenders
  • Projects
  • Staff Mails
  • County Assembly
  • E-Services
  • County Pro
  • E-Citizen

Quick Links

  • Careers
  • Tenders
  • Projects
  • Staff Mails
  • County Assembly
  • E-Services
  • County Pro
  • E-Citizen

County Government of Kisumu

We transform the livelihood of the people of Kisumu county on a foundation of integrity through accountable, efficient and effective leadership that invokes participation and pursuit of quality services, for a prosperous county that is a harbor of excellence

Get In Touch

Prosperity House (Former Nyanza Provincial Headquarters Building)
P.O. Box 2738-40100, Kisumu.
Email: info@kisumu.go.ke
Website: www.kisumu.go.ke

Quick Links

  • Job Vacancies
  • Downloads
  • Tenders
  • County Assembly
  • Staff Mail
  • County News
  • E-services
  • E-Citizen
  • County Pro
  • 100% Renewables Roadmap
  • County Helpdesk System

Kisumu County Twitter feed

Tweets by KisumuCountyKE

© 2022 All rights reserved. County Government of Kisumu.

TOP