* Says lower than 3% lined by insurance coverage
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised the alarm over the remedy of Nigerians dwelling with psychological well being circumstances, warning that insufficient medical insurance, widespread stigma and protracted human rights abuses are denying susceptible residents entry to care and exposing some to degrading and inhuman remedy.
The fee disclosed that no fewer than three per cent of individuals with psychological well being circumstances in Nigeria have been lined by medical insurance, leaving many people and their households struggling to pay for remedy in a rustic the place psychological healthcare providers and skilled professionals stay insufficient.
It additionally revealed instances involving kids and adults with psychosocial disabilities who have been subjected to solitary confinement in Kano State, in addition to a toddler rescued within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from a girl dwelling in what the fee described as a particularly distressing and inhuman situation linked to her psychological state.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, raised these issues in Abuja on Monday whereas commemorating the 2026 World Mental Health Day, calling on the Federal Government to urgently enhance funding for psychological healthcare, develop entry to remedy and strengthen enforcement of legal guidelines defending the rights of affected individuals.
Ojukwu warned that Nigeria couldn’t declare to uphold human dignity whereas individuals experiencing psychological well being circumstances have been deserted, discriminated in opposition to, denied acceptable remedy or subjected to abuse due to their circumstances.
He mentioned psychological well being have to be recognised not merely as a medical concern however as a elementary human rights challenge requiring pressing and coordinated motion by authorities establishments, healthcare suppliers, civil society organisations and different stakeholders.
“A mental-health condition does not reduce a person’s worth, dignity or human rights,” he mentioned.
The NHRC chief careworn that individuals dwelling with psychological well being circumstances have been entitled to equality, respect, acceptable medical care and the chance to take part totally in society, including that their circumstances must not ever grow to be grounds for exclusion, neglect or the denial of private autonomy.
The fee’s warning comes amid persevering with issues concerning the accessibility and affordability of psychological healthcare in Nigeria, the place poverty, insecurity, displacement and shortages of specialized providers place further strain on people and households looking for remedy.
Citing World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, Ojukwu mentioned practically one in seven individuals globally stay with a psychological dysfunction, whereas many requiring care stay unable to entry efficient remedy.
He famous that the state of affairs was significantly regarding in communities affected by terrorism, abductions, armed violence and displacement, the place survivors typically skilled psychological trauma able to affecting their day by day actions, relationships and skill to contribute meaningfully to society.
According to him, survivors of gender-based violence, torture, trafficking and different severe human rights violations additionally require psychological well being and psychosocial assist as a part of efforts to revive their dignity and assist them get better.
He mentioned the federal government should subsequently transfer past normal consciousness campaigns and make concrete investments in accessible providers, skilled personnel, medical insurance and community-based care.
Of explicit concern to the fee is the hole between Nigeria’s authorized commitments and the precise experiences of individuals dwelling with psychological well being circumstances.
Nigeria enacted the National Mental Health Act in 2021, which acquired presidential assent in December 2022, establishing a authorized framework for psychological healthcare and the safety of the rights of affected individuals.
The nation additionally has a National Mental Health Policy and a National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework.
However, Ojukwu maintained that the existence of legal guidelines and coverage paperwork would have restricted impression until they translated into reasonably priced remedy, accessible providers and efficient mechanisms for holding perpetrators of abuse accountable.
He known as for the total implementation of the National Mental Health Act and Policy, warning that individuals experiencing psychological well being circumstances continued to face discrimination in training, employment, housing and group life.
Some, he mentioned, have been denied the chance to make selections about their very own lives or subjected to remedy that undermined their dignity and elementary rights.
The NHRC government secretary urged the Federal Government to develop reasonably priced psychological well being providers by means of main healthcare centres, strengthen medical insurance protection and recruit, practice and deploy extra psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, psychiatric nurses and social employees.
He additionally known as for efficient oversight of psychological healthcare services to stop neglect, illegal confinement and different types of abuse.
Highlighting the fee’s interventions, Ojukwu disclosed that the NHRC had dealt with instances involving kids and adults with psychosocial and psychological disabilities in Kano State who had been subjected to solitary confinement earlier than being moved to a welfare facility following the fee’s intervention.
He additionally recounted a latest case within the FCT during which the fee rescued a toddler from a girl dwelling in what he described as a particularly distressing and inhuman situation linked to her psychological state.
The instances, he mentioned, demonstrated that psychological well being challenges might have an effect on total households and communities, requiring responses based mostly on skilled care, safety and assist quite than punishment, abandonment or abuse.
Ojukwu mentioned the fee had established a Counselling Unit at its headquarters to offer emotional assist to victims of human rights violations and traumatic experiences.
The unit additionally helps NHRC personnel who might expertise emotional misery from dealing with instances involving violence, abuse, bereavement and human struggling.
He added that the fee’s Human Rights Institute had organised coaching programmes for investigation officers to assist them establish psychological well being and psychosocial issues, reply appropriately to susceptible complainants and recognise instances requiring skilled intervention.
The institution of the NHRC’s Vulnerable Group Department had additional strengthened its capability to deal with the wants of susceptible populations, together with individuals experiencing psychological well being challenges, he mentioned.
The fee had additionally partnered with the Taipei Trade Office and civil society organisations to offer grants and free psychological well being periods to some indigent ladies who have been victims of human rights violations.
Ojukwu mentioned the NHRC was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and different stakeholders to include human rights concerns into the proposed National Mental Health Strategic Plan for 2027–2032.
He described the proposed plan as an essential step in the direction of establishing a consolidated nationwide route for psychological healthcare, however careworn that its effectiveness would rely upon implementation, funding and measurable enhancements in entry to providers.
The fee additionally participated in coaching organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on drug prevention, remedy and care, with explicit consideration to the connection between substance use, psychological well being and human rights.
Ojukwu advocated a rights-based method to drug-related challenges, together with entry to remedy, rehabilitation and psychosocial assist.
The intervention is important in a rustic the place psychological well being circumstances might intersect with substance use, poverty, violence and social exclusion, making coordinated healthcare and social assist important to restoration.
In a goodwill message, the Founder of the Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative, Ameh Zion, additionally known as for stronger implementation of the National Mental Health Act and better collaboration amongst authorities companies, civil society organisations and growth companions.
Zion mentioned individuals experiencing melancholy, psychosis, trauma and psychosocial disabilities should not lose their dignity or elementary rights due to their circumstances.
He expressed concern that stigma, insufficient providers and shortages of skilled professionals continued to stop many Nigerians from acquiring the assistance they wanted.
According to him, survivors of terrorism, violence, displacement and abuse typically carried psychological wounds that affected their functioning and skill to contribute to nationwide growth, whereas their households and caregivers struggled with emotional and monetary burdens.
He urged stakeholders to make sure that psychological well being laws translated into accessible providers and enforceable protections throughout the nation, quite than remaining largely a coverage dedication.
Zion additionally expressed his organisation’s readiness to work with the NHRC and different African psychological well being reform stakeholders on public consciousness, institutional capability constructing, referral programs, psychosocial assist for survivors and coverage advocacy.
