Blood On Our Hands: The Huge Cost Of Ignorance (2) - The Source

ADVERTISEMENT
  • Landing Page
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Buy JNews
  • Login
The Source
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Opinions
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Crime
  • World News
  • Parliament
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Opinions
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Crime
  • World News
  • Parliament
No Result
View All Result
The Source
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

Blood On Our Hands: The Huge Cost Of Ignorance (2)

The Source by The Source
December 29, 2022
in Health
0
Blood On Our Hands: The Huge Cost Of Ignorance (2)
0
SHARES
74
VIEWS
Share on Facebookshare on whatsappShare on Twitter

[ad_1]

The most important resource for any organization or nation is its human resource – the people. It should therefore be a no-brainer that any organization or nation that desires to be successful and productive will invest in its human resources. They will ensure that they are equipped and provided with the best tools to enhance their chances of success. The most basic of these investments will be to ensure that your staff or citizens are healthy and fit for purpose.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, MENTAL, and social well-being. Thus, health can be conceptualized as a stool sitting on 3 legs: the physical leg, mental leg, and social leg. Are we paying adequate attention to the mental health leg in Nigeria?

 

Current Realities

We are failing woefully across the spectrum of public health for our citizens: from promotion to prevention to early identification and treatment and lastly, rehabilitation. This is especially true for mental and social well-being and only slightly better (but still a failure) for physical health.

The armed conflicts in the northeasthave been going on for over a decade now, with millions dislocated, thousands dead, and millions traumatized and brutalized -including children and girls forcefully abducted, are we oblivious to the emotional toll? Where are the efforts at winning the minds and societal healing via intensive psychosocial re-engineering and rebuilding? What expectations do we have, if we allow these brutalized children to grow into maturity, feeling abandoned and not cared for?Insecurity and unknown gunmen activities are increasingly making the southeast unsafe. Are we going to just watch as things deteriorate?

Nigeria is predominantly youthful with about half of our population below the age of 18 years. Yet our youths are so frustrated (and I daresay, misguided) that they are willing to cross the desert and risk slavery and treacherous sea crossings in search of a better life. Others are seriously planning and implementing strategies to jump ship and ‘japa’ abroad.This is not right.

Drug abuse is on the increase, insecurity is rife with kidnappings and armed robbery attacks, unemployment rates are high, our infrastructure is poor, and the minds of the youth appear fixated on instant wealth – leading to yahoo yahoo (internet fraud) and other crimes. Yet our politicians do not realize the clear and present danger and the urgent need to inspire hope and chart a clear pathway for progress. As we prepare for national and state elections next year, these issues should be on the front burner if we genuinely wish to make progress.

There is a dearth of mental health professionals to tackle these challenges as we have less than 250 psychiatrists practicing in Nigeria. Some states have no single psychiatrist. The picture is similar for clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses as well as mental health social workers. Thus, it is not surprising that many citizens with mental health challenges are not able to access the care they need, leading to a treatment gap of about 80% for Nigeria – according to the WHO. This means that only 2 out of every 10 Nigerians with a mental disorder are able to access mental health care.

Criminal Neglect of Mental Health

Ignorance, shame, and stigma remain huge barriers preventing the utilization of mental health services. This is where the role of mental health advocacy and organizations such as the Asido Foundation must consistently engage in public awareness campaigns. With the rising cases of mental illness, drug abuse, and suicides, in an ocean of hopelessness, poverty, and social difficulties, it is a shame that mental health remains neglected by governments at the federal and state levels. The revised mental health policy of 2013 still does not have an accompanying mental health plan to guide implementation – 9 years afterward. There is a Desk Officer for Mental Health at the Federal Level, who needs to be empowered and supported, but less than 5 states have Desk Officers for Mental Health. Attempted suicide remains a crime, punishable by a 1-year jail term; and we still operate an obsolete Lunacy Act of 1958. The revised Mental Health Bill is yet to be signed into law by Mr. President. We earnestly hope that this will take place very soon. Drug abuse is rife and available at all motor parks and street junctions -openly so. Yet we feign surprise at the frequent occurrence of ghastly motor accidents and reckless motorcycle riders.

 

Conclusion

As we gradually draw down the curtains on 2022 and plan to usher in the new year, it is important that we encourage the government and stakeholders at all levels to focus on the mental health of our citizens in their electioneering as well as subsequent governance, when elected into office. The challenges are numerous, but they are not insurmountable. They only require a conscious and strategic campaign to change minds and attitudes for the better, via societal re-engineering. Nation-building can never be accidental. It must be deliberate and calculated, with a focus on investments in a healthy populace: physically healthy, MENTALLY HEALTHY, and enjoying social well-being.

Be the first to read it our next BREAKING NEWS, POLITICS, METRO. Click here to join our WhatsApp group

Tags: BloodHands
Previous Post

Naval chief’s warning – Tribune Online

Next Post

NPA wins 2022 FEPSGA Games in Jos

The Source

The Source

Related Posts

The Gender Foundation Charges Young Girls To Embrace Menstrual Hygiene
Health

The Gender Foundation Charges Young Girls To Embrace Menstrual Hygiene

by The Source
May 29, 2025
Osun Sets New Benchmark in Blood Donation, Saves Lives
Health

Osun Sets New Benchmark in Blood Donation, Saves Lives

by The Source
May 13, 2025
Osun Health Agency Enhances Emergency Care with Training for 280 Service Providers
Health

Osun Health Agency Enhances Emergency Care with Training for 280 Service Providers

by The Source
April 30, 2025
Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde (Photo Credit: Twitter)
Health

Oyo Govt Commences Payment Of Compensation to Property Owners on Circular Road

by The Source
April 11, 2025
Top 5 Healthcare Professions Dominated By Women Globally
Health

Idele Reaffirms FG Commitment to Improve Healthcare Services

by The Source
March 13, 2025
Next Post

NPA wins 2022 FEPSGA Games in Jos

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Browse by Category

  • Africa News
  • Business
  • Celebrities
  • Crime
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • HumanAngle
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Parliament
  • Politics
  • Religion
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized
  • World
  • World News

Browse by Tags

Abuja Adeleke APC Aregbesola Atiku Bandits Buhari CBN Chelsea Court Davido EFCC EndSARS FG FIRS Governor Governor Adeleke IGP INEC Kaduna Lagos Muslims Naira Nigeria Nigerian Nigerians NUJ Ondo Ooni Osinbajo Osogbo Osun Osun 2022 Osun govt Osun Poly Osun State Oyetola PDP Police SDP Senate Students Tinubu Tunde Odesola US

Categories

  • Africa News
  • Business
  • Celebrities
  • Crime
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • HumanAngle
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Parliament
  • Politics
  • Religion
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized
  • World
  • World News

Browse by Tag

Abuja Adeleke APC Aregbesola Atiku Bandits Buhari CBN Chelsea Court Davido EFCC EndSARS FG FIRS Governor Governor Adeleke IGP INEC Kaduna Lagos Muslims Naira Nigeria Nigerian Nigerians NUJ Ondo Ooni Osinbajo Osogbo Osun Osun 2022 Osun govt Osun Poly Osun State Oyetola PDP Police SDP Senate Students Tinubu Tunde Odesola US

Recent Posts

  • Adeleke’s Aid, Ifedayo, commends selfless service of Sen. Fadahunsi wife, Victoria on her birthday
  • Ondo Deputy Speaker Resigns, Majority Leader Steps Down
  • Osun LG Crisis: Group Slams AGF over Alleged Attempts to Reinstate Sacked LG Chairmen

© 2022 The Source Nigeria.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Opinions
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Crime
  • World News
  • Parliament

© 2022 The Source Nigeria.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In