As part of the mandate of the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr James David Lalu has reiterated the Commission’s commitment to creating more awareness on the existence of psychosocial disability in the country and the need to deal with it substantially.
Mr. Lalu made this commitment when he received in audience a delegation from the She Writes Woman Mental Health Initiative recently in Abuja.
In his speech, the ES underpinned that public knowledge about mental condition in Nigeria is still very low and there is a need to continually enlighten the public on the effects and possible treatments.
“The Commission has employed two psychologists to assist Persons with psychosocial disability as well as to help in integrating them back into a regular society” he said.
He further assured that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation will equally play a role by making adequate provisions for budgetary allocation for the treatments of the condition.
However, the Executive Director of the Initiative, Hauwa Ojiefo in her reaction lamented that mental ill- health is on the rise and requires urgent attention in order to forestall the spread of inherent torture from the condition in Nigeria.
She also used the platform to appeal for the creation of Special Desk to address the mental disability where Medical experts will be readily available to address the issues.
She however, informed that every 3rd of December is set aside for the commemoration of psychosocial disability around the world and sought collaboration with the Commission.
The high point of the meeting was the presentation of the Guide to the World Health Quality Rights which places emphasis on the training of Nurses and legislators in the country to the Executive Secretary by the group.
Mbanefo JohnMichaels I
Head Press and Public Relations Unit, NCPWD
22nd September, 2023
