TITLE:
Universal Health Coverage and Healthy Living in South-East Nigeria: How Far with Mental Health?
AUTHORS:
N. Okwudili K. Obayi, Festus Asogwa, Nwachukwu Ugwunna
KEYWORDS:
Universal Health Coverage, Healthy Living, South-East Nigeria, Mental Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.7 No.3,
July
27,
2017
ABSTRACT:
Background: Universal health coverage implies access to key promoting,
preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health interventions for all at an affordable
cost, thereby achieving equity in access and service. The mentally-ill
belongs to a vulnerable group that has not been given adequate attention especially
in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. In September 2015, a health
summit was organized in Enugu, South-East Nigeria with the sole aim of strategizing
towards achieving universal health coverage in the zone. From all indications,
much of the efforts being made towards achieving universal health
coverage in the zone are geared towards physical conditions with mental disorders
being grossly neglected. Purpose: This position paper briefly highlights
the burden of mental disorders in South-East Nigeria; brings to fore the numerous
challenges/barriers to effective mental health service delivery in the
area; and calls for a positive change before a meaningful health coverage can
be achieved in the zone (and by extension in the country). Findings: The
burden of mental disorders in south-east Nigeria is heavy. Enormous barriers
to mental health services in the area range from ignorance and stigmatization
to self-marginalization by the unwillingness of many concerned leaders or
hospital chief executives in the area to appreciate mental health and employ or
increase the number of mental health professionals. Recommendations: All
the stakeholders, from policy makers to consumers should wake up, recognize
mental health as an indispensable part of health and take urgent and necessary
measures that would ensure the promotion of mental health, prevention and
treatment of mental disorders, and appropriate rehabilitation of those with
mental illnesses in the zone.