Mental Health Patients Under-Funded and Under-Recognised

The International Women’s Association of Namibia (IWAN), in support of the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the Correctional Service, recently provided donations to help meet the needs of patients with mental health challenges.

Rachel Coomer, member of the Mental Health Care Centre Hospital Board Windhoek said it’s definitely an area that is under- funded and unrecognised and that the centre needs masses amounts of resources. Asked on whether the budget allocated to the Ministry of health and Social Services is fairly distributed among the different sectors within the ministry, Coomer said the budget that they are looking at needs to deal with different needs such as toiletries and the care that these patients need which includes therapy, adding that it’s an important part that needs to be focussed on and recognised.

Spotlight News this week speaks to Rachel Coomer, member of the Mental Health Care Centre Hospital Board Windhoek, on the challenges faced by mental health patients.

https://soundcloud.com/99fm/spotlight-news-rachel-coomer-member-of-the-mental-health-care-centre-hospital-board-windhoek

-Article and interview by Maggie Forcelledo