Devolved units across the country have been challenged to pull resources together and set up regional recovery and skills centres for patients with mental health disorders.
According to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Wilson Aruasa, counties should work on having the centres through their regional economic blocks.
Speaking at the Nawiri Recovery and Skills Centre in Eldoret, on March 20, 2023, Dr Aruasa further noted that such facilities are key in reintegrating patients with mental health disorders back into society.
However, he noted that currently, the country has only one such centre – which is at the MTRH.
“This is a transitional home to recover their (mental health patient’s) skills so that they can be a whole human being,” said the MTRH boss.
“We need to have regional centres at the Coast, Central, North Eastern and Western Kenya so that patients can benefit from such facilities,” he added.
The MTRH Nawiri Recovery and Skills Centre, which has a capacity for 16 clients, was built with funding from the Astellas Global Health Foundation in partnership with MTRH and Indiana University through AMPATH.
At the facility, mental health patients gain skills in gardening and knitting among others, as they are prepared by psychologists to be back to society.
Mental health mindset change
Currently, the facility that serves the entire country and beyond has 13 clients.
But even as he calls for the setting up of more facilities, Dr Aruasa wants Kenyans to have a mindset change about mental health issues.
“We need to change our approach to mental health. We need to embrace it as a key component for a human being. If not well handled, we may not develop as a country,” said the MTRH boss.
He spoke as he hosted officials from Astellas Global Health Foundation led by its President Shingo Lino.
The foundation awarded two grants totalling more than $2.4 million to support AMPATH’s expanded mental health services in western Kenya, including the construction of the MTRH Nawiri Recovery and Skills Centre.
