Mental Health: Committee To Sensitise 16 LGAs in Kano.

By Khadija Aliyu

Kano State Mental Health Committee is to commence sensitisation in sixteen selected Local Government Areas in the state on dangers of substance abuse, mental disorder and Gender Based Violence, GBV.

The Chairperson of the committee, Dr. Fauziyya Buba Idris, made the disclosure during the 3rd session of mental health round table discussion with women groups, held in kano.

Dr. Fauziyya who is also the Special Adviser to Governor Ganduje on Health Matters, and Head of Female Anti Drug Ambassadors Committee, said the sensitisation was aimed at proffering lasting solution to the deadly menace, which according to her was prevalent in the society.

She described mental disorder as one of the neglected part of health related issues, as most people do not accord much priority to it and often stigmatize those affected.

She pointed out that the committee had engaged relevant to stakeholders include, guidance and counseling mentors, traditional leaders, government officials and women groups to map out means of mitigating, mental disorder, drug abuse and GBV.

Dr. Fauziyya said the state government had adopted recommendations from the first and second round table discussion, which has yielded fruitful results.

“The state government has done a lot in terms of the recommendations. All relevant stakeholders and the government discussed and came up with series of activities” – she said.

In a remarks, The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF’s Child Protection Specialist Hajiya Fatima Adamu who called for inclusion of men in the round table discussions, said that men have a vital role to play in mitigating societal problems.

She said the UNICEF’s Child Protection unit has provided a number of services to street children and supported WARAKA sexual referrel center as well as provided technical support to others.

Hajiya Fatima called for establishment of more sexual referral centers across the forty-four LGAs to accommodate the state’s large population.

Some of the participants who spoke to Radio Nigeria, Maimuna Sharif, Hussaina Ahmed Umar and Khadijah Idris Sulaiman decried over rising cases of GVB particularly rape.

They maintained that GVB leads to depression, drug abuse and mental disorder.

The round table discussion with the theme “Mental Health as a Priority” “Let’s Break The Silence”, attracted Journalists, Lawyers, Civil Society Organizations, Development Partners and other relevant women groups.