The Upper East Regional Mental Health Authority has commended the Presbyterian Hospital for the establishment of the Psychiatric Hospital, the only one of its kind, in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.
According to the Upper East Regional Mental Health Coordinator, Edem Quarshie Ameglah, the hospital has significantly improved mental healthcare in the region. Previously, mental health patients did not have a dedicated facility to address their needs.
Services at the facility are further enhanced due to the presence of Psychiatrist, Dr. Dennis Daliri.
Despite the existence of the hospital, Mr. Ameglah Quarshie explained that more needs to be done by the government and other relevant health stakeholders to complement the work of the hospital.
Mr. Ameglah Quarshie made these remarks during an interview with Mark Smith on A1 Radio’s Daybreak Upper East Show.
“We now have the Presbyterian Psychiatric Hospital with a medical doctor who has specialised in mental health care. That is a plus for us. They do admissions in that facility right here in Bolga. Our colleagues are there to help offer care to anyone who needs it.”
Mr. Ameglah Quarshie made these comments on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day.
The Presbyterian Psychiatric Hospital Bolgatanga was established in the Upper East Regional capital to provide mental health care to people in need. The facility comprises a male and female ward, two consulting rooms, OPD, records, and an accountant’s office.
It is located at Bukere, a suburb of Bolgatanga, the Presbyterian Psychiatric Hospital shares premises with the Presbyterian Health Centre.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Right Reverend Professor Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante said the establishment of the psychiatric hospital will augment the government’s efforts to manage mental health cases in the country.
Rt. Rev. Mante called for equal healthcare opportunities to be given to persons living with mental health conditions.
“Our church does not see persons living with mental health conditions as less human and we see them as equally deserving of every first treatment anyone is entitled to. We see their conditions as any other disease such as malaria or headache which can and should be treated. As a church, we believe in prayer as well as medical care. We believe that there could be spiritual and physical causes of mental health conditions. To this end, we have adopted a policy guideline that makes it mandatory for all our prayer camps and centres to be affiliated with health facilities so that people with cases such as mental health will receive both spiritual and medical care at the same time.”
According to the Moderator, mental health conditions contribute significantly to mortality through premature deaths and depression hence the need for concerted efforts to reduce some of the common causes of mental diseases.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
