Cases of mental health have increased in Tana River County since the advent of the Coronavirus pandemic that contributed to loss of jobs, domestic violence, depression and marriage break-ups and economic challenges.
Speaking to the press Tuesday, at Hola County Referral Hospital, a health officer in charge of Mental Health Daniel Nyule said, before the pandemic in March 2020 cases of mental health reported at the hospital were between 20-25 per cent a month but added that from Covid-19 outbreak to date, the cases have increased to average 40-45 per cent a month.
Mr Nyule also said, the cases of mental health could be higher than those reported at the Referral hospital because it was only the Referral hospital that has health experts to diagnose such conditions therefore, cases occurring away from the Referral hospital go unreported.
He said mental health cases could be treated at the hospital and the victims could also be advised on how to reduce their depression and carry on with normal life.
“People are suffering from mental health problems due to the economic challenges whereby staple foodstuff like maize flour is rarely available in the shops in Hola town and the little that is available is sold at Sh210 per 2kg packet since the cheaper Sh100 flour is not available in Hola Town and surrounding areas,” Nyule said.
He noted that some communities in Tana River County are not used to eating rice and instead prefer maize meal especially the farming community
By Simon Guruba
