NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 12- The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed thousands of lives across the country and brought down most of the country’s economies.
Jobs have been lost and where one is still employed, they are surviving on a reduced salary, which has forced many to drastically change their lifestyles.
In many predicaments caused by the disease whose origin is Wuhan province in China, is worsening of mental health across the world.
“COVID-19 has interrupted essential mental health services around the world just when they’re needed most,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organisation Director-General on October 5.
He called on world leaders to “move fast and decisively to invest more in life-saving mental health programmes – during the pandemic and beyond.”
According to WHO, depression is one of the leading causes of disability. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds.
Meanwhile, people with severe mental health conditions die prematurely – as much as two decades early – due to preventable physical conditions.
In Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday issued an Executive Order establishing an ultra-modern National Mental Health Hospital “by elevating Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital as a semi-autonomous specialized hospital.”
The President said it will be East Africa’s premier mental health facility.
It will now offer training and research in psychiatry, specialized psychiatric services, forensic psychiatric services, child and adolescent mental services and substance abuse related and addictive disorders treatment and rehabilitation services.
“Challenges to our public health notwithstanding, I am confident that in partnership with County Governments, we are on course to realize the aspiration of the Universal Health Coverage for all,” the President said.
A Mental Health taskforce chaired by Dr Franklin Njenga in July recommended that “mental health declared a national disaster.”
It also recommended that an independent mental health commission be formed to monitor people’s happiness levels and provide a report annually.
“We are recommending an equally decisive declaration by our government that recognizes that too many people are dying either by suicide or by the root of gender-based violence and we suggest that such a move will and can save lives,” Njenga said.
Some of the proposals in the task force report are captured in the Building Bridges Initiative report.
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