Experts and stakeholders have commended the establishment of Nigeria’s first women-only mental health and substance use rehabilitation centre in Abuja.
At the historic occasion of the official launch of the centre last weekend in Abuja, the chief executive officer/ founder of Intersect Consortium and founder of the centre, Dr Vincent Udenze, said the centre was borne out of absence of mental health institutions in the country to cater solely to the well – being of women.
He said that the problem of mental health is a big issue in the country while the problem of addiction is even bigger, affecting women.
Udenze, who is a consultant mental health expert, said the centre is going to be an inpatient, where women get admitted for treatment of any illness, be it mental health, addiction, or other difficulties.
“This centre will be what we refer to as a mother and baby unit. Some women at the time of delivery will experience depression or even psychosis. When they become that unwell, it becomes a problem because they need admission, but the baby is still three weeks old.
“So, which hospital will admit them? So, in this facility, there is a mother and baby unit, which means we can admit the mother, the baby, and the nanny, and this will improve access to care for women,” he added.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the chairperson, Intersect Consortium, Ammuna Lawan Ali, noted that for decades, mental health and addiction treatment in Nigeria, like in many other countries in the world, has often failed to take into account, the unique social, psychological and cultural realities faced by women.
According to her, issues surrounding mental health and substance use among women have been shrouded in silence, stigma and neglect.
She said, “ Today marks not just the inauguration of a physical facility, but the beginning of a transformative movement.
“One that recognises, validates and prioritizes the mental and emotional well-being of the Nigerian women.
She added that whether survivors of gender-based violence, victims of systemic inequality or individuals grappling with trauma and addiction, the centre provides a safe haven for them.
The chairperson described the mental health centre as a space where women are not just going to be treated, but empowered. Not just stabilized, but supported on a path towards fullness and self-determination.
Meanwhile, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) has lauded the establishment of the women only facility, describing it as a landmark achievement in the agency’s response to the dual challenges of mental and substance use disorder, particularly among women.
The chairman, NDLEA, Brig Gen Buba Marwa ( Rtd), said that in recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a troubling rise in substance use, cutting across all segments of the population, including women.
He said that as chairman of the NDLEA, he has witnessed firsthand, the silent and often invisible struggles of women battling addiction, many of whom are victims of stigma, gender-based violence and discrimination, trauma, social exclusion, fear of family separation, and lack of gender-responsive services, to name a few.
Marwa, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Drug Demand Reduction, NDLEA, Muhammed Bashir Ibrahim, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the private sector and civil societies led initiatives which align with the objectives of the National Drug Control Masterplan (NCMP).
“As we commission this facility today, let us be reminded that the recovery is possible and that every woman deserves the chance to reclaim her life, her voice, and her dignity.
“I must admit that your initiative is a bold and timely response to a long-standing gap in our health care and social support systems,” Marwa added.
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