The Ministry of Health will be implementing Quality Rights Mental Health initiative aimed at transforming mental health and promoting human rights for people with mental disorders.
The implementation of the initiative will be an important strategy that will enable the ministry of health to achieve the Kenya Mental Health Policy goal of attaining the highest standards of mental health.
Speaking during a meeting prior to the launch of the initiative, the Director of Mental Health, Simon Njuguna, said that for a long time people living with mental disorders have suffered historical injustices and its high time the society recognizes their rights.
“Kenya will conduct E-training on World Health quality rights and mental health, human rights and recovery to at least 50000 service provider, users, carers and other community workers in the 47 counties,” said Njuguna.
He added that they will conduct assessment and reports on the quality of care and observance of human rights in the 1 National Referral Hospital, 15 mental health units and 29 mental health outpatient clinics in Kenya.
Njuguna further noted that they are looking forward to establish long term strategies on sustainable and effective quality rights implementation in Kenya.
“We will establish and train a mixed stakeholders national coordinating committee and assessment committees to monitor and evaluate improvement and transformation of services in the facilities,” note Njuguna.
He stated that the Quality rights training programme encompasses an e-training platform and face to face training on human right, human rights mental health and disability, legal capacity and the right to decide, ending coercion, violence and abuse, quality services and community inclusion and mental wellbeing and recovery.
The Director said that the initiative is an undertaking by the government to transform services in the country to be in line with the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD).
While giving her remarks, the Ministry of labour Chief of Occupational Safety and Social Health Officer, Jacinta Mwende said that they will launch a programme meant to protect persons with mental illnesses at their work places.
By Njeri Kariuki
