Nigeria's Mental Health Act Faces Implementation Challenges
The Mental Health Act (NMHA), sponsored by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 5, 2023, seeks to establish a rights-based framework for mental health services in Nigeria. Despite its enactment, nearly four years later, implementation remains limited.
Key structures have not been fully operationalized, funding and workforce shortages persist, and few states have domesticated the law. The treatment gap is significant, with only a small minority of those needing care receiving it.
Related reforms, such as the decriminalization of attempted suicide, are still incomplete. The article references the outdated Lunacy Act of 1958 and highlights the need for mental health education among Nigerians, including Senator Akpabio.
The NMHA aims to align with global best practices, focusing on community-based care and patient rights, but faces challenges in operationalizing its objectives.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from This Day. Read the original report below.
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