Kenya pledges action on rising burden of mental illnesses

Kenya's health ministry and multilateral partners on Monday pledged new resources and policy action to revitalize the war against mental disorders that affects 25 percent of the population.

Speaking during an occasion to mark World Mental Health Day in Nairobi, senior officials said neurological disorders could overtake malaria to become the leading cause of premature deaths.

Jackson Kioko, director of medical services in the ministry of health, reiterated the government's commitment to reduce the burden of mental illnesses through a raft of policy and bio-medical interventions.

The health ministry in May this year launched a national mental health policy in a bid to strengthen response to diseases affecting the nervous system.

The policy outlines strategic areas of investments that include research, training of manpower and public outreach in order to boost prevention and treatment of mentally-ill citizens.

Kioko noted that Kenya ranks third in Africa in terms of policy action on neurological disorders that are often linked to substance abuse, genetics and stresses of modern life.

"The ministry of health will hasten implementation of national and global commitments to reduce the burden of mental illnesses," said Kioko, adding that Kenya will scale up investment in infrastructure for diagnoses and treatment of people suffering from a host of psychological ailments.

WHO Representative in Kenya Rudolf Eggers noted that violent conflicts, terrorism, natural disasters and extreme poverty are fueling mental illnesses in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Developing countries like Kenya have experienced a surge in mental disorders occasioned by rapid urbanization as well as economic and social upheavals. Endit