Bauchi State Government inaugurates Mental Health Steering Committee with a call on them to ensure proper coordination, strengthening and implementation of mental health interventions in the state.
Inaugurating the committee, wife of the Bauchi State Governor, Hajiya A’isha Bala Mohammed said
mental health was a critical health problem that is caused by depression and anxiety.
Represented by the Overseeing Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, Dauda Abdullahi, the First Lady said the present administration was committed towards improving the health status of the citizens.
She said the ultimate goal of the administration was to have a fully functional, result oriented affordable, accessible and inclusive health services that focuses more on the most disadvantaged, particularly people living in the rural areas and the vulnerable population such as women, children and the elderly.
According to the First Lady the government is fully aware of the challenges in the health sectors including that of mental health services.
“We are fully aware that, to have a fully functional health system, we must revitalize our health facilities, strengthen our coordination mechanism, improve our systems in terms of transparency and accountability, and invest heavily on our human resource for health and research” she added.
In an address, the Country Director Plan International Mr Charles Usie assured to work with the state government and provide all the required support for the committee to discharge its responsibility diligently.
Represented by the Senior Programme Coordinator Pla
in collaboration with Plan International Nigeria, Aspire project, Nasir Mohammed, the Country Director, urged the committee to use their wealth of experience to change the narrative of Mental Health in the state.
The State Commissioner of Health, Dr Adamu Sambo who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee assured commitment of members to put in their best in discharging the responsibilities reposed in them
Dr Sambo who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ali Babayo appreciated Plan International Nigeria, Aspire project for supporting the state in many aspects, particularly creation of Mental Unit domiciled in the ministry.
The inauguration of the Mental Health Steering Committee Bauchi which was organized by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Plan International Nigeria, Aspire project, witnessed the presence of the Civil Society Organisations, Persons With Disabilities, Implementing Partners and the media.