Christian health group initiates five-year programme to improve mental care in Ghana

The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) has initiated a five-year programme to improve the healthcare of mentally challenged people.

The programme funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), United Kingdom, seeks to reduce the incidence of stigma, increase access to treatment, care and support towards persons with mental challenges.

The Executive Director of the CHAG, Dr Gilbert Buckle, made this known at a seminar organised by the association to discuss the role of religious leaders in solving mental health issues.

Challenges  

Mentally ill persons who assess healthcare services are usually stigmatised and rejected by their families and the society.

In extreme stages of their predicament, they walk around the roadside naked, picking food from bins and gutters to eat and talking to themselves.

At a point, they become resistant to treatment and once they reach that level,  they are believed to be demonised and bewitched.

For that reason, the association which includes the Catholic Bishops Conference, Christian Council, Pentecostal Council and the Charismatic Council intends to contribute their quota through sensitisation programmes, capacity building and improve on infrastructure capacity of existing CHAG mental health facilities.

According to Dr Buckle, a large number of persons with mental disorders did not receive the care needed to survive the challenge.

He explained that the few health facilties in the country also faced challenges such as inadequate facilities, human resources and lack of medication to deliver mental health care.

Programme

Recognising the need to help deliver mental healthcare services, Dr Buckle said, the association would provide support to religious leaders to educate the public on stigma and improve awareness on mental challenges.

As part of the programme, he said, the association would partner with stakeholders to ensure continuous availability and accessibility of medication for the management of mental challenges.

In his presentation, the Executive Director of BasicNeeds Ghana, Mr Peter Badimak, urged religious leaders not to preach only about success and prosperity, but also about suffering and its acceptance.

He explained that healthcare in Ghana should move from medications to the use of community resources such as exhibition of love, care, acceptance and help to treat the disease.

A Clinical Psychotherapist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Alfons Amanor SVD, recommended that mental health units should be established in all Christian hospitals and clinics.

Source: Daily Graphic