By Cosmas Okereafor
The Chairman, Board of Fellows, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Uche Apakama, during the week disclosed that over 40 million Nigerians are suffering from various mental illnesses induced by drug abuse.This revelation was made at the 7th Public Lecture, organized by the Board of Fellows of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, that took place at the Festival Hotel, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. In his opening remark, the Chairman hinted that, issue of mental health disorder is in the public domain and therefore should become everybody’s business if we must have a saner society.
He bemoaned a situation where only 250 Psychiatrists personnel are the only ones handling the teeming number of those struggle with mental health ailments across the country. The quest speaker, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa( RTD), who spoke on the theme; Mental Health: A basic human right crucial to personal, community and socio economic development, pointed that, mental health issues is a very big challenge to the family and the society in general. He explained that despite the ban on Tramadol and other injurious drugs to human health, that some disgruntled elements are still selling these drugs illegally to unsuspecting young Nigerians, most of whom are ignorant of the damage the drugs would cause to their health.
He also hinted that, the NDLEA recently seized over 200million pills of Tramadol and that, the high street value of Tramadol makes it very attractive for those in the illicit business. In his words; ”NDLEA made over 66,000 arrest, 12,000 convictions and conducted 11,000 sensitization activities in schools, worship centres and other strategic places. We have strengthened regulations with the National Agency for food, Drug, Administration and Control( NAFDAC), and other agencies.” Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa on his part pointed that, the mental status of the citizens should not be ignored at all, but should be a collective responsibility of all and sundry especially those I the health sector.
He charged the pharmacists to intensify efforts in detecting fake drugs saying that, fake drugs are all over the places. He called for close relationship between the PSN and the assembly saying that, the assembly should be a strategic ally to those in the health sector, adding that, they are there because of the people.The key note speaker, Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, Consultant and CEO Redimed Services, called on parents to pay attention to what their children do at home. She reiterated that, there was an urgent need for all hands to be on deck to reverse the ugly trend, whilst mental health issues, she stressed should be seen as a basic human right ultimately. The occasion featured panel of discussants which was coordinated by Dr. Monica Eimungeze and awards presentation to distinguished personalities on the day.
