Health

Open Letter To Health Minister, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate On Nigeria’s Mental Health Crisis, By Halima Layeni

Published

2 years ago

April 24, 2024

371 Views

According to Halima Layeni, less than 10% of mentally ill Nigerians have access to the care they need. This is not just a statistic; it is a damning indictment of our collective failure to prioritize mental health as a fundamental aspect of overall well-being.

Dear Honorable Minister for Health,

I pen this letter to you with a heavy heart, but also with a fervent hope for change. As the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, you shoulder the immense responsibility of safeguarding the well-being of every Nigerian. Yet, amidst the myriad challenges we face as a nation, one issue stands out as a glaring indictment of our collective failure: the state of mental health care in Nigeria.

In a country of over 200 million people, we have fewer than 150 psychiatrists. Let that sobering fact sink in. Less than 150 specialists are tasked with addressing the mental health needs of a population grappling with the stresses of modern life, compounded by poverty, conflict, and inequality.

According to the WHO, less than 10% of mentally ill Nigerians have access to the care they need. This is not just a statistic; it is a damning indictment of our collective failure to prioritize mental health as a fundamental aspect of overall well-being.

To put this into perspective, let us compare our situation to that of other nations: In the United States, there are approximately 28,000 psychiatrists serving a population of 330 million people. In the United Kingdom, there are 12,300 psychiatrists for a population of 68 million. The disparity is stark, and it is unacceptable.

Numbers alone do not tell the full story. We must also confront the systemic issues that have hampered our efforts to provide adequate mental health care.

First and foremost, we must address the chronic underfunding of mental health services. Year after year, mental health budgets languish at the bottom of the priority list, starved of the resources they need to function effectively. This must change. We cannot hope to build a healthy, prosperous society without investing in the mental well-being of our citizens.

Equally pressing is the issue of inadequate facilities and infrastructure. Too often, those in need of mental health care are forced to travel long distances to access overstretched hospitals and clinics, only to find that essential medications and treatments are in short supply. We must invest in the expansion and modernization of our mental health infrastructure, ensuring that care is accessible to all who need it.

But perhaps most damning of all is the failure to implement existing laws and policies designed to protect the rights of individuals with mental health conditions. Our National Mental Health Policy, enacted in 2013, lays out a comprehensive framework for promoting mental health and ensuring access to quality care. Yet, too often, these lofty aspirations remain unrealized.

We cannot ignore the issue of men’s mental health. Traditional gender norms dictate that men should be stoic and strong, leading many to suffer in silence rather than seek help for their mental health issues. We must work to dismantle these harmful stereotypes and create a culture where men feel comfortable seeking support when they need it most.

As Minister for Health and Social Welfare, you have the power to effect change. You have the opportunity to reshape our nation’s approach to mental health care, to tear down the barriers that have long stood in the way of progress. But you cannot do it alone.

I call upon you to marshal the resources of your ministry, to rally support from across the government and civil society, and to lead by example in the fight for mental health equity. Together, we can build a future where every Nigerian has access to the care and support they need to thrive—a future where mental health is not just an afterthought, but a fundamental pillar of our national identity.

The time for action is now. The stakes could not be higher. Let us rise to the challenge, and in doing so, create a brighter, healthier future for all Nigerians.

Halima Layeni

Founder & Executive Director

Life After Abuse Foundation

Related Topics:Featured Halima Layeni Min of Health Open Letter

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Health

National Data Repository Index Numbers of patients currently on treatment for HIV in Nigeria as at May 13, 2026

Published

3 days ago

May 14, 2026

Charles Flames

64 Views

Benue: 195,305

⁠Akwa Ibom: 158,201
⁠Lagos: 135,918
⁠Rivers: 90,055
⁠Nasarawa: 65,996
⁠FCT: 62,627
⁠Kaduna: 58,576
⁠Cross River: 57,765
⁠Enugu: 55,478
⁠Delta: 52,475
⁠Taraba: 51,840
⁠Abia: 50,038
⁠Imo: 47,863
⁠Plateau: 46,618
⁠Anambra: 46,602
⁠Adamawa: 42,074
⁠Kano: 41,093
⁠Kogi: 37,301
⁠Oyo: 33,133
⁠Niger: 33,057
⁠Ogun: 31,822
⁠Bauchi: 29,745
⁠Edo: 29,256
⁠Gombe: 28,037
⁠Osun: 25,018
⁠Borno: 24,527
⁠Ondo: 22,455
⁠Kebbi: 20,803
⁠Bayelsa: 19,549
⁠Katsina: 18,682
⁠Ebonyi: 15,474
⁠Kwara: 14,997
⁠Jigawa: 14,302
⁠Zamfara: 13,813
⁠Ekiti: 12,356
⁠Yobe: 10,716
⁠Sokoto: 10,511 Total: 1.70m

Health

FG to Launch Mega Agro-Industrial Livestock HUB in Abuja

Published

6 days ago

May 12, 2026

Charles Flames

68 Views

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the establishment of an Agro-Industrial Business Hub and Mega Livestock Processing Facility in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, gave the assurance during a high-level strategic meeting involving the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, ABIS Group and the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) in Abuja.

The Minister stated that the Ministry would work closely with ABIS Group, LPRES and other stakeholders to ensure the smooth take-off and successful implementation of the project. He explained that the engagement followed Nigeria’s participation in an international training programme on pastoral market access and inclusive contracting models held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

According to the Minister, the training, organised under the auspices of the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources and the African Pastoral Market Development Platform, provided valuable insights into strengthening livestock value chains, improving market systems and promoting quality assurance mechanisms across Africa.

Leader of the ABIS delegation, Ambassador Emmanuel Usman, commended the Ministry for facilitating the group’s participation in the training programme, which brought together delegates from Somalia, Botswana, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Also speaking, LPRES National Coordinator, Sanusi Abubakar, appreciated the Minister for supporting collaboration and inclusiveness in the livestock sector.

The General Manager of ABIS Group, Mr. Kujo Reigans, highlighted key lessons from the training, including the need for a unified quality assurance system, structured outgrower schemes and improved access to funding opportunities through the Development Bank of Nigeria.

He stated that these measures would enhance efficiency, traceability and competitiveness within Nigeria’s livestock industry.

The ABIS team also raised concerns over visa bottlenecks affecting expatriates working on the Abuja Mega Livestock Processing Facility project, calling for streamlined visa processes to ease project implementation and support the timely delivery of the agro-industrial hub in the FCT.

Health

Pharmacists body urges FG to establish presidential committee for sector

The association noted that local drug production currently accounts for just over 38 percent of national demand, far below the 70 percent target set in the National Drug Policy 2021.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 23, 2026

OCHEFA

104 Views

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) urges the Federal Government to establish a presidential committee dedicated to the pharmaceutical sector, implementing the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, and strengthening existing laws against fake drugs.

ACPN made the call while reacting to the government’s recent ban on imported drugs, describing the move as a strategic step toward strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing and conserving foreign exchange.

In a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Ambrose Ezeh and National Secretary, Omokhafe Ashore, the association said the updated prohibition schedule covering drugs under HS Codes 3003.10.00.00 through 3004.90.00 signals renewed commitment to protecting domestic industry players.

The ACPN specifically highlighted the ban on the importation of commonly used medicines such as paracetamol tablets and syrups, metronidazole, clotrimazole, chloroquine, multivitamins, aspirin and folic acid, as well as topical preparations like penicillin and gentamycin ointments.

It described the development as a “step in the right direction” that would boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.

The association noted that local drug production currently accounts for just over 38 percent of national demand, far below the 70 percent target set in the National Drug Policy 2021.

It attributed this gap partly to continued dependence on imports, especially from China and India, which it said accounts for about 65 per cent of drug supply in the country.

It also urged reforms in pharmaceutical education and training to expand the pool of skilled professionals across industry, clinical, hospital and community practice.