By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Dr Temitope Farombi, a Consultant Neurologist, has tasked the Federal Government to train more mental health officers at the community level to enhance mental health delivery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Farombi is a Consultant Neurologist at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and the founder of Brain Centre Brain Neuro Critical and Rehabilitation Services.
She made the call on Thursday in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
The neurologist said that the training of mental health officers would ease pressure on specialists and ensure people got standard care before cases escalate.
According to her, it takes minimum of seven years to produce a doctor and minimum of about 13 to 14 years to produce a specialist.
Farombi said that a lot needs to be done as there are less than 100 neurologists and less than 200 psychiatrists in the country.
“The system problem needs to be completely overhauled.
“We should train mental health officers and provide mental health desks at Primary Healthcare Centres.
“The Officers should be trained to man the place, for them to be able to identify symptoms and do a proper referral.
“Also, we can have task shifting through training of community health extension workers that can man the places and identify appropriate symptoms.
“The trained officers will identify cases so people are not wrongly diagnosed and treated, this will also support doctors and nurses,” she said.
Farombi identified part of the causes of drug abuse and substance taking as social media influence and peer pressure.
She adds that access to bad, illegal substance is now open, with people buying drugs on the road, emphasising that people are now more exposed than in the olden days.
The Neurologist stressed the need for people to have Health Insurance to save them a lot of trouble when issues arise.
“Economy is biting hard and people push health behind, prevention is very cheap compared to treating; Ohealth, advocates prevention and healthy living for that reason.
“People should also desist from buying drugs without prescription, today, antibiotics are sold over the counter with no strict regulations again due to quacks.
“Government should put strict regulations to reduce sale of bad drugs; porous channels bringing in bad drugs must be blocked.,” she said.
The consultant neurologist urged more people to commit to Corporate Social Responsibility, imbibing the culture of philanthropy and donating their substances to support the needy.
“Government should subsidise food and transportation to ease the burden on people.
“Ohealth occasionally runs outreaches and gives free surgery as CSR with its NGO arm, Brain Health Initiative.
“So, if more people engage in CSR, it will go a long way in helping the vulnerable ones,” Farombi said.
On curbing drug abuse, Farombi urged parents to be vigilant and observe behaviours that are not normal in a child.
“When an outspoken child withdraws, parents should check the child, he or she might be under pressure.
“Parents should create a friendly channel of communication, this helps children discuss challenges freely; parents should be vigilant, communicate and give adequate support to their children,” she said. (NAN)
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