15th March, 2012
Dr. Zaharadeen Habib, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Kware, Sokoto State, said about 1,018 patients suffering from mental ailments were treated in the hospital last year.
Habib told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kware on Wednesday that out of the number, 936 were treated and discharged.
He said that already the hospital had adopted a community based approach towards fighting psychiatric illness in the state.
The CMD said that arrangement had been concluded by the hospital to train community psychiatric personnel on how to treat patients with minor mental illness in their localities.
Habib said the programme was aimed at ensuring early treatment of those with minor ailments before being referred to the hospital.
“We will set up a Drug Rehabilitation Centre to cater for victims of drug abuse mostly youths.”
He explained that most of the psychiatric cases were due to genetic predisposition.
Habib said that religious approach was being adopted in the treatment of such illness.
He said the approach would enable religious leaders to participate actively in the fight against drug abuse among the youth.
The CMD said that Imams and Pastors were expected to preach special sermons in mosques and churches about the dangers of drugs abuse.
“The good part of it is that our people in this part of the country have a listening culture to our religious and traditional leaders hence the for the hospital to contact them.”
Habib said the hospital launched campaigns in public and private schools, advising students to turn away from drugs abuse.
“As leaders of tomorrow, all hands must be on deck to enable them contribute positively towards the socio-economic and political growth of our nation.”
Habib explained that the active participation of the Sokoto Sultanate Council in the campaign against drug abuse would go a long way in educating the youth to shun the bad habbit.
He also called on philantropists to assist in the rehabilitation of some patients.
“We have quite a number of them that need to be reabsorbed into the society by engaging them in vocational skills.”
He said that provision of some basic equipment to the hospital would enable some of the patients to learn various trades to make them self reliant.
Habib appeal to parents to always monitor the conduct of their children to enable them become responsible citizens.