According to the Nigerian Medical Association,the doctor patient ratio stands at an alarming rate of of 1:9083 leading to significant number of population not able to achieve the good health and well being, among the sustainable development goals by UN. With an various forms of insecurity, terrorism and flooding , the Northwestern region is going to face severe humanitarian crises and mental health illness.
Upon my return from the UK, my immediate goal is to leverage the knowledge and skills I've acquired to significantly improve the public health landscape in Northwestern Nigeria
Thou Nigeria being the most populous country in Africa has achieved remarkable progress in the health sector with giant successes to meet the challenges of Ebola virus, COVID-19 and other epidemics through strengthened leadership, policies and legislation. However Mental health has been a neglected Public health issue.
The prevalence of mental health issues that affect individuals' physical and social well-being makes mental health a public health issue integral to achieving community health goals
WHO says one in four Nigerians, an average of 50 million people, is suffering from mental illnesses
According to WFMH, between 75-95 per cent of people with mental disorders in low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria are unable to access mental health services at all.
Nigeria is also currently under multiple public health challenges as many other countries around the globe, such as health and social workers' burnout, suicidal episodes, communal violence, terrorism and insecurity that can lead to mental health issues particularly in the Northwestern region where I come from.
Upon completing my master's degree in the UK, my immediate goal is to leverage the knowledge and skills I've acquired to significantly improve the public health landscape in Nigeria starting locally from the Northwestern region with a special interest in mental health .
My short term goals would be to join already established NGOs in the country like NEEM, MANI, iAfrica establishing their niche in the northwestern region.
Similarly to ensure public awareness and education going deep into the grass root rural areas including IDPs camps that have limited access to public addressing system to make them well informed and to change their perception and reduce the stigmata surrounding mental health.These awareness campaigns and public education would be targeted on victims of banditry and terrorism, military and law enforcement officers, prisoners healthcare personnel , and minority groups like the IDPs and social deviants, drug addicts and drug abusers, children/adolescent and student.
In the mid term my goal would be to ensure Human resource training and Capacity development. There are only about 300 Psychiatrist to carter for 200 millions Nigerians creating a huge burden as such other paramedics especially in Primary health care including Nurses, Community extension workers need to be trained in order to identify a patient with mental health disorders and those at risk.
I will collaborate with other NGOs and Medical students associations like NIMSA to do sensitization rally and awareness campaign. In the same spirit to also conduct a day workshop for Nurses Community health extension workers CHEW on the common mental health illness, alarming sign to look out for in suicide and other mental health care skills.
Looking ahead, my three-year goal is to contribute to the establishment of a specialized Mental health clinical care center, a project that has been in the pipeline but remains unrealized due to a shortage of professionals with the necessary expertise. Also I want to Leverage the impact of social media to establish digital healthcare which will go a long way towards access to mental health services in Nigeria and augmenting the efforts of the clinical care centre.
Upon my return from the UK, my immediate goal is to leverage the knowledge and skills I've acquired to significantly improve the public health landscape in Northwestern Nigeria
Thou Nigeria being the most populous country in Africa has achieved remarkable progress in the health sector with giant successes to meet the challenges of Ebola virus, COVID-19 and other epidemics through strengthened leadership, policies and legislation. However Mental health has been a neglected Public health issue.
The prevalence of mental health issues that affect individuals' physical and social well-being makes mental health a public health issue integral to achieving community health goals
WHO says one in four Nigerians, an average of 50 million people, is suffering from mental illnesses
According to WFMH, between 75-95 per cent of people with mental disorders in low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria are unable to access mental health services at all.
Nigeria is also currently under multiple public health challenges as many other countries around the globe, such as health and social workers' burnout, suicidal episodes, communal violence, terrorism and insecurity that can lead to mental health issues particularly in the Northwestern region where I come from.
Upon completing my master's degree in the UK, my immediate goal is to leverage the knowledge and skills I've acquired to significantly improve the public health landscape in Nigeria starting locally from the Northwestern region with a special interest in mental health .
My short term goals would be to join already established NGOs in the country like NEEM, MANI, iAfrica establishing their niche in the northwestern region.
Similarly to ensure public awareness and education going deep into the grass root rural areas including IDPs camps that have limited access to public addressing system to make them well informed and to change their perception and reduce the stigmata surrounding mental health.These awareness campaigns and public education would be targeted on victims of banditry and terrorism, military and law enforcement officers, prisoners healthcare personnel , and minority groups like the IDPs and social deviants, drug addicts and drug abusers, children/adolescent and student.
In the mid term my goal would be to ensure Human resource training and Capacity development. There are only about 300 Psychiatrist to carter for 200 millions Nigerians creating a huge burden as such other paramedics especially in Primary health care including Nurses, Community extension workers need to be trained in order to identify a patient with mental health disorders and those at risk.
I will collaborate with other NGOs and Medical students associations like NIMSA to do sensitization rally and awareness campaign. In the same spirit to also conduct a day workshop for Nurses Community health extension workers CHEW on the common mental health illness, alarming sign to look out for in suicide and other mental health care skills.
Looking ahead, my three-year goal is to contribute to the establishment of a specialized Mental health clinical care center, a project that has been in the pipeline but remains unrealized due to a shortage of professionals with the necessary expertise. Also I want to Leverage the impact of social media to establish digital healthcare which will go a long way towards access to mental health services in Nigeria and augmenting the efforts of the clinical care centre.
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