Kaduna Has Mainstreamed Mental Health—Gov Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State announced that the region has integrated mental health services into its primary and secondary health systems, making it the sole subnational entity in Nigeria to achieve this milestone. At the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, during the 2026 World Mental Health Day, the governor highlighted that a cohort of 100 doctors, nurses, and pharmacists from ten general hospitals has been certified under the World Health Organization’s mhGAP programme.

Mental health screening is now integrated into regular maternal and child health services, with plans to extend these services to all 30 general hospitals and primary healthcare facilities across the state’s 23 Local Government Areas. Governor Uba Sani emphasized that this integration leads to a human rights-focused, evidence-based, and decentralized model of care, aligning with global standards.

He praised the hospital’s Medical Director, Professor Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u, for her dedication, particularly for transforming the hospital’s Dialysis Centre into the sole facility in Kaduna State to treat septic patients who previously had limited options. The governor also introduced the Telepsychiatry Programme, enabling patients in remote areas to receive care closer to home, reducing travel burdens and costs.

Prof Armiyau emphasized that mental health is a shared responsibility, urging everyone to support those in need, take care of themselves, and seek professional help when necessary. She commended the governor’s investment in the health sector and the passage of Kaduna State’s Mental Health Law in September 2025, which marks a significant step toward safeguarding the rights and dignity of individuals with mental health conditions.