The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has in yet another remarkable addition to the nation’s healthcare infrastructure, commissioned a new Psychiatry block to serve Korle-Bu and the University of Ghana Medical School on Tuesday, 6th June, 2023.
The construction of this facility, augments the unprecedent 200 percent increase in fiscal allocation and funding towards mental health in the course of the last six years and the enrolment of more serious mental health conditions onto the coverage list of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The state-of-the-art edifice, which not only serves the University of Ghana Medical School, but also the larger Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital community, houses a conference room, student lecture hall, faculty research offices, a serene waiting area conducive to teaching and learning, trendy consulting rooms, therapy rooms, a treatment room, a pharmacy, and an observation room.
The product of a beautiful partnership between public institutions and the private sector, President Akufo-Addo, in his remarks at the commissioning, described it asan example of what can be achieved whenexperts sit with the private sector and the private sector becomes alive to its responsibilities.
Christened, The Melody, the President said, it represents a beacon of hope and a sanctuary where individuals can seek help without fear of judgment, discrimination, or social isolation as well as decrease stigma towards patients and professionals who practice.
According to him, the impressive structure, which serves both the University of Ghana Medical School and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, “stands as a tribute to the memory of Squadron Leader Melody Danquah, a trailblazing woman, who made history as the first female military pilot in sub-Saharan Africa in the 1960s. Her story serves as an inspiration not only to those living with mental illness, but also to those who persevere, thrive and achieve their fullest potential in life. Today, we celebrate the indomitable spirit of individuals who face mental health challenges, and find the strength, nonetheless, to lead fulfilling lives.”
Intimating a note from the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Hon. Dr. Bernard OkoBoye, the President said “it is considered a matter of justice and equality to include more serious mental health conditions onto the NHIS list, so that some of the expenses of patients may be covered by the scheme” and that the Mental Health Act, Act 846passed in 2012,“have led to a more coordinated and efficient approach to mental health care, empowering individuals with mental health conditions to live in their communities with the support of their families and friends.”
He added that, the Mental Health Acts’“focus on human rights ensures that people with mental health problems are treated with dignity and respect. In 2019, we launched the Legislative Instrument (LI) for Mental Health, which establishes the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, including the government, private sector, and civil society. The Mental Health Authority oversees its implementation, ensuring its effectiveness.”
On 31st March 2023, Ghana under President Akufo-Addo, took a significant step towards decriminalising suicide. A key reform he considered as a progressive move that will help reduce stigma, improve access to care, and enhance outcomes for individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviours in the country.
Touching on crucial aspects of mental health in Ghana, the President said, with the contribution of mental healthcare to our GDP estimated at three per cent (3.0%), it means that for every one hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢100) produced in Ghana, three cedis (GH¢3) is attributed to the mental health care sector, suggesting that the sector plays a significant role in the overall economic output of the country.
Citing a research paper conducted by the erudite Professor Angela Ofori-Atta, in collaboration with the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) and Yale University, he said, “some seven percent (7%) of GDP is lost annually by ordinary Ghanaians reporting a lack of wellness. It is programmes such as those you run, and having a place like this to run to, that whittles away at that lost seven percent (7%) of GDP, and allows us to be more productive as a nation.”
Therefore, he continued, “we must acknowledge the challenges that persist within our mental health care sector. Many Ghanaians still lack access to these critical mental health services. Statistics show that only three per cent (3%) of patients that need care receive it from orthodox psychiatry settings. Geographic barriers, economic challenges, stigma, limited human resources and training opportunities, as well as inadequate infrastructure, contribute to this disparity.”
Echoing government’s committed resolve on mental health, he concluded that, “it is with some pride that I say that the NPP government has added two psychiatric hospitals to the Agenda 111 Hospital Project, which two are to be built in the Ashanti and Northern Regions. We also have undertaken a review of the uses and purposes of our oldest psychiatric hospital, the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, and have agreed to rebuild the hospital to serve as a modern teaching hospital for Psychiatry. It will be the first time since the 1970s that government would have added to the infrastructure in Mental Health.”
