Uganda has 28 mental doctors
Nov 16, 2010
UGANDA has only 28 psychiatrists, according to a recent report by the World Health Organisation.
By Pascal Kwesiga
UGANDA has only 28 psychiatrists, according to a recent report by the World Health Organisation.
The organisation said there is only one psychiatric to attend to one million mental health patients in the country.
The psychiatrists are stationed at Mulago, Butabika, Mbarara, Gulu and Arua regional hospitals, leaving many health facilities without psychiatrists to handle complicated mental cases.
Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi, the principal medical officer in charge of mental health and control of substance abuse, said Uganda should have at least one psychiatric at each regional referral hospital.
“Many cases are referred to Butabika, but most of these people cannot make it because they are already poor and marginalised,†she said.
Ndyanabangi, however, said there were enough psychiatric clinical officers and psychiatric nurses at all regional hospitals and health centre IV’s, but added that they were not adequately trained to handle complicated mental cases.
She was speaking at the commemoration of the World Mental Health Day at Hotel Triangle in Kampala last Tuesday.
Dr. Jacinto Amandwa, the commissioner for clinical services in the health ministry, said the ministry offers scholarships to four students who want to pursue psychiatry each year, but they do not turn up.
According to medical officials, one of the major factors hindering students from pursuing the discipline are the conditions under which psychiatrists work.
Health state minister Richard Nduhura said the Government set up 12 mental health units across the country to decentralise mental health services.
UGANDA has only 28 psychiatrists, according to a recent report by the World Health Organisation.
The organisation said there is only one psychiatric to attend to one million mental health patients in the country.
The psychiatrists are stationed at Mulago, Butabika, Mbarara, Gulu and Arua regional hospitals, leaving many health facilities without psychiatrists to handle complicated mental cases.
Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi, the principal medical officer in charge of mental health and control of substance abuse, said Uganda should have at least one psychiatric at each regional referral hospital.
“Many cases are referred to Butabika, but most of these people cannot make it because they are already poor and marginalised,†she said.
Ndyanabangi, however, said there were enough psychiatric clinical officers and psychiatric nurses at all regional hospitals and health centre IV’s, but added that they were not adequately trained to handle complicated mental cases.
She was speaking at the commemoration of the World Mental Health Day at Hotel Triangle in Kampala last Tuesday.
Dr. Jacinto Amandwa, the commissioner for clinical services in the health ministry, said the ministry offers scholarships to four students who want to pursue psychiatry each year, but they do not turn up.
According to medical officials, one of the major factors hindering students from pursuing the discipline are the conditions under which psychiatrists work.
Health state minister Richard Nduhura said the Government set up 12 mental health units across the country to decentralise mental health services.