The Mombasa county government in partnership with the Women Empowerment Network officially opened a 120 bed capacity centre to cater for medical and basic needs of the mentally handicapped in the wake of Covid-19.
Authorities in Mombasa will now begin rounding up all persons suffering from mental health disorders from the streets and take them to their new accommodation facility, situated at the Mombasa Technical Training Institute.
The Covid-19 holding centre for persons with mental illness was officially opened on Saturday by the Likoni MP, Mishi Mboko on behalf of Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho.
Speaking during the launch, Mboko said the state is in the race against time to ensure that no person is left openly exposed to the deadly coronavirus.
She lauded the noble initiative especially during these trying times of the pandemic, with Mombasa being among the hotspots of the deadly virus.
Mboko challenged the County government to develop sustainable access to health care for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders, and ensure that the concerned patients get the right care and treatment, at the right time, and in the right setting.
The mentally ill persons have for a long time been forgotten by the society, even during these trying times of the covid-19, compelling the women empowerment network to partner with the county government of Mombasa and find ways of protecting them from falling prey to the deadly virus.
The Mombasa Women Empowerment Network Chair, Amina Abdalla says coronavirus poses new challenges for many people with mental illnesses, thus the need for special focus from the authorities and other stakeholders.
Amina also called on the national government and other county governments across the country to consider the group as the most vulnerable in society and come up with clear roadmaps on how to contain and assist them during this period.
Meanwhile, the head of the Department of Health care in Mombasa County, Celina Kithinji has ensured that there are enough nurses and medication for the mentally ill at the centre.
By Joseph Kamolo
