Ekiti Gov signs Mental Health Service bill into Law
By Matthew Eloyi
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has signed the state’s Mental Health Service bill into law and promised to prioritise qualitative health services delivery to the people.
Fayemi, while signing the bill into law on Monday, stressed the importance of ensuring that people living with mental disorders have access to appropriate care.
According to him, catering for the welfare of all members of the society regardless of their physical, mental or social status was indicative of the level of commitment to delivering universal health coverage.
In his words, “The new law would protect, provide care and treat persons living with mental health disorders in order to save them from unnecessary stigma and marginalisation.
“This aspect when not protected would have increased the likelihood of their human rights being violated.”
Fayemi noted that the framework would handle critical issues of hospitalisation and provision of high-quality care among others.
The Governor said the core objectives of the law includes establishing purpose-built mental health facilities and medical Social Work Department and units in selected secondary and tertiary medical facilities.
Others are to guarantee the protection of persons suffering from mental disorders or illness and substance abuse in the state.
He said that the law would ensure that every person living with mental disorders have access to mental health care facilities by receiving and being admitted for treatment in a designated facility.
