President Buhari signs Mental health bill into law

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari has signed the  Mental Health Bill harmonised by the Senate and House of Representatives in 2021, into law.

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Confirming the signing, the President of the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria, Prof Taiwo Obindo said “A final culmination to over two decades of several efforts by the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria now has an Act/Law on Mental Health governance and we are now part of the global space with best global practice.”

He described it as a great relief to the mental health care and practice in the country.

Some of the provisions of this law which  displaces the Lunacy Act of 1958 practitioners condemn as outdated and inhumane  includes the establishment of a Department of Mental Health Services in the Federal Ministry of Health and a Mental Health Fund.

Healthwise/S.S