FNPH marks 2023 world mental health day with public lecture

In celebration of World Mental Health Day 2023, a Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH) Budo-Egba in collaboration with Kwara State Rotary Clubs on Tuesday organized a public lecture on mental health awareness, campaign against suicide and the use of drugs and illicit substances.

The event themed: “Mental Health Is A Universal Human Right, Campaign Against Suicide And Use Of Drug And Illicit Substances” took place at the premises of the medical center facilitated by immediate past Kwara Central Senator, Sen. Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe in Asa LG, Kwara state.

The Guest speaker, Dr. Barr. Ahmad Folohunsho Hussein, Lecturer Department of Islamic Law University of Ilorin, while delivering his lecture said people with mental disorder should not be discriminated against, adding that, “we should be patient with people with mental illness, take good care of them and recommend them for possible and necessary medical attention.”

“We want the whole word to know that mental health is a fundamental right of every human being that need to be protected, preserved and honored,” Barr. Ahmad said.

While appreciating the organizer of the program, Barr. Ahmad commended Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe for the efforts he made to make the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH) Budo-Egba a reality.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the program, Prof. Baba Awoye Issa, the Medical director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH) Budo-Egba explained that Mental health is one of the three components of health because health has been defined as the state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, “therefore there’s no health without mental health.”

“People should take individuals with mental illnesse as brothers and not to discriminate against them because by discriminating against them, they will be violating some basic rights of people with mental disorder which may be challenged at court of law,” Prof. Amoye concluded.

Also speaking, Kwara Rotary club representative, Rotarian Yetunde Fatoyinbo, commended the organizer for the good initiative, noting that “it is universal human right for anybody with mental disorder to be treated well and catered for.”

Meanwhile, Mallam Issa Ishola, the Alangua of Budo-Egba described the program as an insightful and enlightening initiative, stating that, the important messages about mental illness will be conveyed to all the people in Budo-Egba and Otte community.

In his closing remarks, Dr Oludolapo Oladeji, chairman organizing committee, said mental health is everybody’s business and nobody should discriminate and expelled them from society. Dr Oludolapo added that everybody should enjoy good mental wellbeing.

Dignitaries at the event included, FNPH Medical director, Prof. Baba Awoye Issa; the Guest Speaker and Lecturer Department of Islamic Law University of Ilorin, Dr. Barr. Ahmad Folohunsho Hussein; Alhaji Yusuf Abdul, Alangua Otte; Alangua Budo-Egba, Alhaji Issa Ishola; Kwara Rotary club representative, Rotarian Yetunde Fatoyinbo; Law enforcement agencies, representatives of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), students and residents of Budo-Egba community.