Health experts in the mental health sector have decried the scarcity of mental health practitioners in Nigeria.
This was made known during the 6th Biennial Conference of the Counselling Association of Nigeria Rivers State chapter, held at the auditorium of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt. Chairman of the association in Rivers State, Dr. Austin Jonah, in his address of welcome, said it was a gathering of professionals, visionaries, counselors, educators, mental health advocates and change agents who were committed to building a healthier, safer, and more sustainable society through counseling and mental health transformation.
His words: “As Counsellors we occupy a very critical position in the society. We’re not only listeners and advisers; we’re builders of hope, promoters of healing, defenders of emotional wellbeing, and catalysts for transformation.”
In his keynote address the National President of Counselors Association of Nigeria, Prof Ike Ifelunni, represented by Prof Joy Ugwu, lamented the dangerous situations in Nigeria that has affected the mental health of the people and called for a concerted efforts by mental health practitioners to end the menace.
Also, the Senior Registrar Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Port Harcourt, Dr Chimenum Wodu in his lead paper presentation, lamented the shortage of mental health practitioners in Nigeria. He added that Nigeria has just about 1000 mental health nurses and 200 doctors nationwide to serve the over 200 million population. He blamed the situation on brain drain. The theme of the conference was: Counseling for Transformation: Accelerating Mental Health for Sustainable Development in Nigeria. Our correspondent reports that 70 new members were inducted into the association.
By Samuel Olusegun Precious
