Uba Sani Expands Mental Health Services in Kaduna State

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani announced that mental health screening is now incorporated into the standard maternal and child health services in the state. This initiative will extend mental health screening to 30 general hospitals and primary health care facilities across 23 local government areas.

The announcement was made at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, on the occasion of the 2026 World Mental Health Day, themed “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.” Governor Sani, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma K Ahmad, revealed that the first cohort of 100 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, has been certified under the World Health Organisation’s mhGAP programme. He emphasized that Kaduna State is the only sub-national entity in Nigeria to have integrated mental health into its primary and secondary health systems, promoting a model of care that is human rights-focused, evidence-based, and decentralized.

Professor Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u, Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, praised the governor for his significant investment in the health sector.