WHO supports treatment of mental health patients in Borno, others
By Njadvara MUSA, Maiduguri
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has supported the treatments of 32, 215 mental health patients in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
According to the UN agency, 110 healthcare workers were also trained in the first-line support and clinical management of rape.
This was disclosed on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno state, by the WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo at the 12th Joint Operational Review of Humanitarian Health Response in the Northeast.
He said that the conflict-affected three states are to support WHO and other partners in the information management of humanitarian health responses to save lives.
While treating the patients, he said 1, 772 specialised mental healthcare sessions were conducted in each of the affected states.
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Speaking on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Mulombo disclosed that about 255 health workers were trained in the identification of GBV survivors.
“The identification of GBV survivors was to enable the trained health workers to provide healthcare services,” he said
According to him, the support is for the five ps, including the promotion of healthcare delivery and protecting vulnerable people against outbreaks of diseases.
Besides, he added that Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states including other partners are to build the capacities of their communities.
Mulombo noted that this will enable the State Governments and their people to “sustain and own” the healthcare delivery facilities.
Out of the 1, 842 GBV survivors, he lamented that 226 are with the clinical management of rape, while 146 were referred for further management in the Northeast.
“We’ve to respond to the rising levels of GBV caused by conflict,” he said, stating that about 86, 585 women and girls were reached to overcome the consequences of GBV.
The Health Minister, represented by the Health Emergency Response Director in the Federal Ministry of Health, Adegbite Olufunmilola said, “The 13-year conflict has affected the entire livelihoods of the people,” adding that, while COVID-19 has aggravated the healthcare delivery system in the tree states.
She, therefore, commended WHO and other partners for their healthcare interventions including the bridging of gaps in healthcare delivery to the people.
Responding to the 2023 Joint Operational Review on Humanitarian Health, the Borno State Commissioner of Health, Dr Mohammed Arab said that the emergency preparedness for outbreaks of cholera and other diseases was supported by WHO and other partners in the healthcare sector.
He pledged that the State government and the people would take ownership of the health facilities, so as to sustain the healthcare delivery system in communities.
