Substance abuse accounts for half of Kaduna psychiatric hospital patients – MD
About half of the patients receiving treatment at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, are cases linked to substance abuse, the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr Aishatu Armaya’u, has disclosed. Armaya’u made the disclosure Wednesday at a media engagement and the launch of the hospital’s digital innovation initiatives in Kaduna. She said the increasing number of patients […]
The Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Kaduna, Dr Aishatu Armaya’u, revealed that nearly half of the patients receive treatment at the facility are afflicted with substance abuse disorders. Speaking at a media engagement and the inauguration of the hospital's digital innovation projects in Kaduna, she emphasized the growing concern that the surge in substance-related mental health issues has put considerable strain on the hospital's resources, particularly its wards.
Previously, these acute substance abuse patients were accommodated alongside other mental health patients, a practice that Armaya’u deemed problematic. She explained that some patients became aggressive due to drug cravings, making it difficult to manage their conditions. To address this issue, the management redesigned one of the wards into a dedicated toxicology unit, which she noted as the first of its kind in a psychiatric hospital.
The specialized unit is designed to accommodate acute substance abuse patients for up to one month, after which they are evaluated for rehabilitation. Treatment, education, and rehabilitation (DATER) ward and a 30-bed toxicology ward are currently available at the hospital, but the number of patients often exceeds the available space.
To enhance addiction treatment services, the hospital has recruited addiction specialists, doctors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers to create a therapeutic community for patients. Additionally, the hospital has expanded mental health services to communities by collaborating with the Kaduna State Government. Currently, 23 centers of excellence provide mental health services, and within one month of implementation, 1,075 patients were attended to, with 75% of them being female.
The medical director highlighted that mental health services being taken to primary healthcare facilities would help alleviate pressure on the psychiatric hospital while improving awareness, prevention, and early treatment. She also mentioned that the hospital is working with various state agencies to expand its services. Furthermore, the hospital has introduced a fully digital electronic health record system, moved to a cashless payment system, and increased its workforce from around 300 staff in 2022 to over 960 staff, following intentional recruitment based on identified needs.
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