The Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital, Mr. Bismark Tuffour has advised Ghanaians to access proper health care for mentally challenged patients in the country.
According to him, people with mental health conditions are often shackled by families in their own homes or in overcrowded and unsanitary institutions, against their will, due to widespread stigma and a lack of mental health.
He explains that such actions to mentally challenged patients are unlawful and against their rights.
He emphasized saying “mental illness has treatment don’t chain them because is unlawful to chain a person suffering from mental illness, don’t eject them from the house is against their rights.”
He, therefore, called on the general public and families to desist from such acts and seek proper health care made available by the government for such people.
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Mr. Bismark Tuffour was speaking exclusively to ATLFMNEWS on the sidelines of a get-together party organized by the management of the Ankaful psychiatric hospital for the in-patients and also to reward deserving staff for their hard work.
He explained that the mental health authority has established that it has opened a mental health unit with the collaboration of the Ghana health service and ministry of health in all health facilities across the country.
He, therefore, advised Ghanaians to “access the mental health there first, if the need be, you will be referred to a bigger hospital in the country where you can get better treatment.”
An in-patient who is receiving treatment at the Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation centre expressed his gratitude to the management of the hospital and also advised all to desist from activities that will affect their mental health.
Source: Richard Osei Korankye/ATLFMNEWS
