Kaduna has mainstreamed mental health into primary, secondary care – Gov Sani
Governor Uba Sani Highlights Kaduna State’s Integration of Mental Health Services
KADUNA—Governor Uba Sani announced that Kaduna State is the only subnational entity in Nigeria to have successfully integrated mental health services into its primary and secondary healthcare systems. The Governor made this statement at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa during an event marking the 2026 World Mental Health Day, which focused on the theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
Represented by Commissioner of Health Hajiya Umma K. Ahmad, Sani reported that the state’s first cohort of 100 healthcare professionals—including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists—has been certified through the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).
He highlighted that mental health screening is now an integral part of maternal and child health services across the state. “We are extending these services to all 30 general hospitals and primary healthcare facilities within our 23 local government areas, while also enhancing access at the tertiary level,” he said.
Sani emphasized that the integration of mental health within Kaduna’s healthcare framework represents a model that is both human rights-focused and evidence-based. He described it as a global standard achieved through collaboration between federal institutions and state government entities.
During the event, Sani commended Professor Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u, Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, for her exceptional commitment to serving the people of Kaduna State. He noted that under her leadership, the hospital’s Dialysis Centre has become the sole facility in the state capable of treating patients with septic infections who lack alternative options.
Sani also announced the recent implementation of a Telepsychiatry Programme, which allows patients to receive mental health care remotely. “For families in remote areas of Kaduna State, this means reduced travel time, lower costs, and timely access to care,” he explained. The program also enables hospital specialists to support primary and secondary healthcare workers.
In her address, Professor Armiya’u pointed out that while mental health issues are not considered communicable diseases, certain mental health-related behaviors and symptoms can spread socially. She urged attendees to view mental health as a collective responsibility, encouraging individuals to check on the well-being of friends and family and to seek professional help when necessary.
Armiya’u praised Governor Sani for his administration’s substantial investments in healthcare and related sectors, highlighting the impact of the recently enacted Kaduna State Mental Health Law, which aims to protect the rights and dignity of individuals with mental health conditions.
Additionally, she noted the hospital’s collaboration with the Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (KADSAMHSA) to train and certify health workers across all local government areas. The hospital has also introduced a Smart Digital Patient Card system, designed to streamline access to essential patient information and support electronic payment methods, contributing to a more efficient and paperless healthcare delivery system.
