The Departmental Committee on Health in a Session chaired by Lamu County MP, Hon. Capt. Ruweida Obo, today held a consultative meeting with officials from the Ministry of Health and the Presidential Taskforce on Mental Health with regard to the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill, 2020 at Bahari Beach Hotel, Mombasa.
The Bill seeks to amend the Mental Health Act in order to provide for the prevention of Mental illness; provide for care; treatment & rehabilitation of persons with Mental illness; to provide for procedures of admissions, treatment and general management of persons with Mental illness.
The Task-Force formation follows the realization that Mental Health is more than just the absence of Mental disorders or disabilities.
Going by the defination from World Health Organization shows that Mental health entails a state of physical, mental as well as social wellbeing.
Among the key recommendations presented before the Departmental Committee on Health by the Ministry of Health and the Presidential Taskforce on Mental Health in Kenya are; the need to set up a Mental wellness and happiness Commission; the declaration of Mental illness as a national emergency of epidemic proportions; that need to carry out a Mental health survey; the fast-tracking of the creation of Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital as a semi-autonomous Government agency for specialised referral services; teaching and research in Mental Health, Implement a multi-sectoral approach to Mental health challenges, (similar to that adopted in 1999 against HIV/AIDS), gazette the second week of October as the National Mental Health Awareness week in Kenya among others .
The Hon. Members present in the consultative meeting were Hon. (Capt.) Ruweida Obo (Lamu County), Hon. (Dr.) James Murgor (Keiyo North), Hon. (Dr.) Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Hon. Christopher Omulele (Luanda), Hon. Beatrice Nkatha (Tharaka Nithi County), Hon. Janet Ong’era (Kisii County) and Hon. Joshua Kimilu (Kaiti)The Chairperson, Hon. Sabina Chege (Murang’a County), the Vice Chairperson, Hon.Joshua Kutuny (Cherengany), Hon.(Dr.) James Nyikal (Seme), Hon. Muriuki Njagagua (Mbeere North), Hon. Bernard Koros (Sigowet-Soin) Hon. Martin Owino (Dhiwa), Hon. (Prof.) Mohamud Sheikh (Wajir South)and Hon. Joyce Emanikor (Turkana County) attended virtually.
