Afrigather Accra – Psychological, neurological and substance use issues account for greater than 10% of the worldwide illness burden. The misplaced productiveness ensuing from melancholy and nervousness, two of the commonest psychological issues, price the worldwide financial system US$ 1 trillion annually. In low- and middle-income international locations, greater than 75% of individuals with psychological issues obtain no remedy in any respect for his or her dysfunction.
In Ghana, there have been efforts by the federal government to enhance psychological healthcare providers in any respect ranges. Nevertheless, vital gaps remained, with solely about 2% of Ghana’s 2.3 million individuals dwelling with psychological well being circumstances receiving psychiatric remedy and help from well being amenities in line with WHO.
To assist international locations like Ghana deal with the gaps in psychological well being, the World Well being Group (WHO) established the Director Basic’s Particular Initiative for Psychological Well being (DG-SIMH) with the imaginative and prescient to make sure that all individuals within the goal inhabitants within the chosen international locations obtain the very best customary of psychological well being and well-being.
The five-year initiative supported by the Authorities of Norway seeks to get 100 million extra individuals to entry high quality and inexpensive psychological well being in 12 international locations world wide.
Forward of the implementation in Ghana, WHO has helped Ghana to develop a nationwide implementation plan and is presently helping the nation’s six new areas within the growth of their regional plans in direction of efficient implementation.
“We acknowledge the essential position of stakeholders within the implementation of this initiative”, stated the WHO Noncommunicable Ailments & Threat Elements Officer in Ghana, Dr. Joana Ansong on the inception assembly for the initiative within the Western North Area of Ghana. “That’s the reason we would like the areas to map out their implementation methods to allow them to personal the method and strengthen partnerships to realize common well being protection for psychological well being”.
Ghana launched the initiative in July 2022 and is predicted to begin implementation within the third quarter of 2022 and can span 5 years, with the purpose to enhance entry to built-in high quality person-centred psychological well being take care of a further 5.2 million Ghanaians.
The WHO Particular Initiative for Psychological Well being will advance psychological well being insurance policies, advocacy and human rights, and scale up high quality interventions and providers for people with psychological well being circumstances, together with substance use and neurological issues.
For well being authorities in Ghana, this initiative is a superb alternative to strengthen the psychological well being system while mobilizing communities to create an surroundings devoid of stigma and abuse in opposition to individuals with psychological well being circumstances.
“We have to create an surroundings that’s conducive sufficient for individuals with psychological issues to come back out and search assist at any degree of the well being system”, stated the Western North Regional Director of Well being, Dr. Marion Okoh-Owusu “This particular initiative is a chance for us to redefine psychological healthcare in Ghana”.
Certainly, while expressing profound gratitude for the WHO Particular Initiative on Psychological Well being, Kyidomhene of Sefwi Wiawso Conventional Space, Nana Elluo panyin III underscored the important position conventional leaders can play to assist enhance psychological well being service supply in Ghana.
“We have to deepen collaboration between well being authorities and conventional leaders to strengthen mechanisms in direction of the safety of individuals with psychological well being circumstances”, added Nana Elluo panyin III.
The WHO Particular Initiative on Psychological Well being will construct on the successes of different psychological well being interventions such because the QualityRights Initiative, which helps to enhance the standard of care and promote the human rights of individuals dwelling with psychological well being circumstances.
