Construction of new Accra Psychiatric Hospital to begin soon - Mental Health Authority

The Mental Health Authority has hinted that discussions are far advanced to put up a new building for the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

The management of the hospital has on several occasions appealed for a new facility to replace the over 100-year-old building where it is currently based.

In a recent interview, the hospital authorities indicated that attacks on staff could have been avoided if the facility had alternative doors for exiting consulting rooms.

The Chief Executive officer of the Mental Health Authority, Dr. Akwasi Osei has said a new structure which will also have apartments for staff is in the offing.

“As we speak now, discussions are going on now and plans are far advanced to rebuild the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. As soon as the designs are completed, we will get the architectural designs. It will be built from the current 600-bed capacity which is even stretched to over 1200 to just a 100-bed facility with apartments for staff. The discussions are underway; [infrastructural wise] the plans are underway to build the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.”

Gov’t urged to renovate Accra Psychiatric hospital

The management of the Accra Psychiatric hospital had called on the government to as a matter of urgency renovate the health facility.

According to the management, the hospital lacks the needed equipment for smooth operation as a result of inadequate funds.

Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Francisca Ntow lamented how uncomfortable it is to always rely on the public for support.

“We have financial problems. Mental health treatment is supposed to be free in the country and the government must pay us the services we render to mental patients. The funds do not often come which makes us run into a shortage of food items, logistics and we will have to run to the public for support.”

“We cannot continue to keep running the facility on donations. Secondly, our facility is in a very poor state and not a place we should be keeping mental patients. We are pleading on government again to come to our aid to renovate the facility quickly,” she said.

Source: citifmonline.com