Uba Sani Integrates Mental Health into Kaduna's Healthcare

On October 9, 2026, during the World Mental Health Day event at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani announced that Kaduna State has mainstreamed mental health services. Represented by the Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Umma K Ahmad, he revealed that the first cohort of 100 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, has been certified under the World Health Organization’s mhGAP programme.

Mental health screening is now integrated into maternal and child health services across all 30 General Hospitals and primary health care facilities in the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. The Governor emphasized a human rights-focused, evidence-based, and decentralized model of care, developed through collaboration between federal and state institutions.

He praised Professor Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u, the Medical Director of the hospital, for her leadership and the launch of a Telepsychiatry Programme, which enhances access to mental health care for rural communities.