admin_county March 2, 2021

Plans underway to set up modern County mental health hospital

The County Government of Nakuru has initiated plans to construct a modern psychiatric facility to fully integrate mental health services in its healthcare provision programs.

Currently, Gilgil General and Psychiatric Hospital, which serves as Nairobi’s Mathari Hospital annexe, is the oldest and biggest psychiatric unit in Rift Valley.

The Gilgil-based hospital is grappling with the rising number of abandoned psychiatric patients, some being there for over 30 years, thus straining the facility.

Already, a technical team from Nakuru County has toured the Chiromo Mental Hospital to collect data on a modern and ideal mental health facility.

The team led by Dr Cleophas Wafula, a Clinical Psychologist at the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital also met Dr Frank Njenga, a renowned mental health consultant.

County Architect, Mr Julius Kiprop Sang’ noted that the data will help Nakuru come up with a modern mental infrastructure in Gilgil sub-County to well serve the region.

Dr Frank Njenga commended Nakuru County for taking interest in coming up with the right infrastructure to address mental healthcare issues.

The Taskforce on Mental Health of Kenya report of July 2020 recommended that mental illness should be declared a national emergency of epidemic proportions.

The report further called for the prioritization of mental health as public health and socioeconomic agenda.