Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, has asked the public to reduce stigmatisation associated with mental health.
He said mental health is not receiving the needed attention it deserved and called for rehabilitation of existing facilities for mental health care.
Dr Appiah-Denkyira was speaking at a Fundraising Ball, organised by the Accra East Rotary Club, to support mental health care across the country, especially, the Pantang Hospital.
He stated there were about 240,000 people suffering from severe mental disorders, whilst more than two million may have mental health condition.
Dr Appiah-Denkyira commended the Rotary Club for its enormous contributions to health care, especially their support in helping to eradicate polio and guinea worm.
He stated that Ghana had not recorded neonatal tetanus and measles-related deaths in children for some years now, and called for the need to put in more efforts to ensure that all children survived beyond age five into adolescence.
Mr Bright Semanu Attah, the President of the Rotary Club of Accra East, said the Club would construct bathroom and toilet facilities, and also mount a signage for the assessment unit of the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital.
They would also collaborate with MUSIGA to campaign against the stigmatisation of mental health.
The Club would also supply midwifery tool bags to selected CHPS compounds and donate furniture, books and equipment to some selected basic schools.
He urged all Rotarians to uphold the 2015-15 Theme of the President of Rotary International, K.R. Ravindran, “Be a Gift to the World”, which challenges Rotarians to give the gifts of time, talent, and knowledge to improve lives in communities across the globe.
