By Dauda Shehu
Birnin Kebbi – The Kebbi State Government has released N10 million for the treatment of people with psychiatric disorders.
The Chairman of the Zakkat Board, Malam Muhammadu Kwaido, disclosed this while addressing participants at the celebration of this year’s World Health Day in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2017 World Health Day organised by the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, with the theme: “Depression: Let’s talk’’.
According to Kwaido, the out-patient psychiatric hospital in Zauro has recorded 1,500 patients that were receiving medication every two weeks.
He said the hospital has recorded success in the treatment of people with mental illness and depression.
He said lack of facilities had prevented admission of patients, adding “the board has assisted patients after successful treatment’’.
The Medical Director of the centre, Dr Abdullahi Ibrahim, said the event was organised to mobilise action on specific topic of concern to people.
He commended the state government for investing in the treatment of people with mental illness, adding “the psychiatric rehabilitation centre under the Ministry of Women Affairs plays complementary role.
“The intervention by the state government had reduced vagrant psychotics in the streets of most towns and villages in the state,’’ Ibrahim said.