Strengthening Access To Mental Health At The Laikipia Health Service (LHS)
Updated on: Aug 26, 2022
LHS Nanyuki has been proposed to become one of the six Regional Mental Healthcare Units in the Country.
Earlier today, we were privileged to host a team of officials on Mental Health from the Ministry of Health led by Dr Simon Njuguna, the Director, Mental Health Services. And accompanying them was Dr. Frank Njenga, Senior Advisor on Presidential Taskforce on Mental Health.
The team were at LHS Nanyuki on a scoping visit to assess the mental health services provision in the hospital, advice on improvement of these services and possibly set up a regional mental health facility within the hospital.
The LHS Nanyuki team, led by CEO Dr. Timothy Panga and Dr Ruth Gathuru, Consultant Psychiatrist, took the visiting officials on an extensive tour of the hospital, with the visitors impressed with the vast hospital grounds, which has the much needed space and ambience to run a mental health unit. The team also discussed at the Mental Health Clinic the services that are currently provided and our growth plans.
The team were impressed with the new Mother and Child Complex and the Newborn Unit (NBU) amongst other areas. Dr Njenga was quick to point out the generous support of our newborn of the past-turned benefactor who helped LHS Nanyuki construct the NBU.
Later on, the visiting Ministry of Health officials met LHS Chief Officer Dr. Donald Mogoi, with extensive discussions centered on transformation of health systems to include mental health services at all the levels of healthcare provision in line with the growing demands.
This visit is momentous, coming days after the commissioning of the construction of a 600 bed capacity ultra modern mental health hospital in Nairobi’s Ngong area to address the rising burden of mental health in the country.
This development fills us with optimism-the addition of a mental health unit sets us on the path to centre of excellence in care and training, handling the region’s referrals to the relief of those seeking the service far away from home.
These investments are informed by National Taskforce on Mental Health, Suicide Prevention Strategy 2021-2026, and Mental Health and Wellbeing-Towards Happiness and National Prosperity.
