FNPH Maiduguri treated over 150,000 psychiatric patients in 20 years – MD
The Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH) Maiduguri has said that over 150,000 patients with chronic mental disorder was treated since inception 20 years ago.
The Medical Director, Prof. Ibrahim Wakawa, made this known on Thursday in Maiduguri while briefing a delegation from North East Development Commission (NEDC), led by the General Manager Operations, Mr Haruna Ibrahim.
He said the affected patients from the six states of North East zone were stabilised in the hospital.
He added that “the scenario would have been worst if they were left to roam the streets.
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“We also provided services to 13,000 internally displaced persons in camps and host communities through the human health and nutrition emergency response of the Federal Government.”
The medical director explained that the hospital produced 20 consultants, while its School of Psychiatric Nursing produced over 200 psychiatric nurses, now practicing across the country as part of its mandate in training and research.
Wakawa, however, raised concern over growing problem of drug abuse, pointing out that research by UN Office of Drug and Crimes, through the Ministry of Health had shown that 14.3 per cent of people aged between 15 to 60 years in the zone which translate to 14 million people were engaged in drug abuse.
He added that “the development portends a great danger, particularly to youths who are the vanguard of development in the society.”
He urged the NEDC to establish rehabilitation centres that would help to mitigate drug abuse and encourage abstinence.
He also called for the establishment of a centre for mental health and psychosocial support to accelerate healing of trauma victims of insurgency and other traumatic incidents.
Newsmen reports that the team from NEDC that visited the hospital presented a 500KVA generator to supplement power supply in the hospital.
It also pledged to establish 40 beds capacity rehabilitation centres in the hospital and other states in the North East for mental health patients.
