Participants in a group photo<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Abdulai Abukari, has expressed worry about the rate of tramadol abuse among the youth and health workers in the region.<\/p>\n
According to him, statistics has shown that the prevalence of tramadol use among Ghanaian youth was between 24.9% and 77.6% (Danso & Anto, 2021) adding that recent studies in Northern Ghana revealed high usage of tramadol by men (90.7%) compared to females (9.3%) and among those in the informal sector jobs (Alhassan,2022).<\/p>\n
\u201cThese addictions not only harm the individuals involved but also have far-reaching consequences for their families and our society,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
Dr. Abukari further stressed that stress \u00a0mismanagement has emerged as a significant challenge, with adverse effects on the well-being of workers and community members.<\/p>\n
He noted that research indicates that one in four people will experience mental illness in their lifetime, highlighting the urgent need for accessible and effective mental health services.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the Northern Region, our dedicated mental health professionals have been working tirelessly to address these challenges. From reviewing routine OPD consultations and conducting home visits to providing outreach services and delivering mental health education in schools, their efforts have been commendable,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Dr. Abukari further noted that over the past three years, there has been a concerning trend in cases of epilepsy, depression, psychoactive substance use, mental disorders due to alcohol use, and schizophrenia, schizotypal, and delusional disorders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese statistics underscore the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to mental health care in our region,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He made this known during the Agenda for Inception Meeting for the GHS Director General\u2019s Special Initiative for Mental Health supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), held in Tamale.<\/p>\n
The Northern Regional GHS Director said the initiative presents a unique opportunity for them to strengthen their mental health services, build capacity, and develop innovative solutions tailored to their local context.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis inception meeting, we aim to increase awareness, provide orientation for key stakeholders, and develop a comprehensive work plan that will guide our efforts in the coming years\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Principal Nursing Officer (Mental Health), GHS, Emmanuel Fokuo, who read a speech on behalf of Dr. Amma Boadu, Deputy Director for Mental Health GHS, said statistics show that approximately 1 out of every 10 Ghanaian grapple with common mental health conditions, while 1% to 3% are living with severe mental illnesses and that only 5% of these individuals receive adequate treatment; a disparity exacerbated in regions with limited resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pervasive lack of awareness and understanding surrounding mental health perpetuates this treatment gap, affecting individuals across all demographics by the age of 75, 1 in 2 which translates to half of the population will have encountered some form of mental health challenge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He urged the public to desist from stigmatizing and discriminating against persons with mental illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur profound concern are the misconceptions, stigma, and discrimination associated with mental illness, which unfortunately permeate our health systems. These barriers hinder individuals from seeking help and impede their path to recovery. It is imperative that we collectively prioritize mental health care, combat stigma, and ensure accessibility for all in need\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
BY Eric Kombat, Tamale<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Participants in a group photo \u00a0 The Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Abdulai Abukari, has expressed worry about the rate of tramadol abuse among the youth and health workers in the region. According to him, statistics has shown that the prevalence of tramadol use among Ghanaian youth was between 24.9% […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":189651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health"],"yoast_head":"\n
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