Zamfara govt commences establishment of mental health, psychosocial support programmes
The Zamfara State Ministry of Health has commenced the establishment of the Zamfara State Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programme in the state.
The groundbreaking initiative was credited to Dr. Aisha M. Z. Anka, who was the State’s Commissioner of Health before she was redeployed as the Commissioner of the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Development Affairs.
She stated that the program was designed by the Department of Public Health Services of the ministry.
Anka disclosed this at the program’s inception meeting and the inauguration of the Structure and Engagement meeting, held at the Karma Hotel Conference Hall in Gusau, the State capital.
The commissioner noted that the state is poised to launch a dedicated mental health case management clinic to bolster the operationalization of mental health and psychosocial support services.
Also speaking, Pharmacist Sani Bello, Executive Secretary of the Drug Management Agency, expressed gratitude to Governor Dauda Lawal for his unwavering support to the Ministry, particularly in the construction, renovation, and equipping of primary health care centers, as well as the upgrade of Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital to a Teaching Hospital.
In his remarks, Dr. Yusuf Abubakar Haske, Director of Public Health, thanked all esteemed state partners, including WHO, UNICEF, IRC, Red Cross, Health Africa, and various federal and state government agencies, for their invaluable support.
He pledged to ensure the successful implementation of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program.
Recall that Aisha M. Z. Anka was the Commissioner of Health in the state but was recently redeployed to the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Development Affairs.
