Dr Mohammed Soori, a consultant on Psychiatry, at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, has cautioned that maternal mental health cases are assuming alarming proportions and if preventive measures are not stepped up, it may soon become a national challenge.
He, therefore, asked health care providers to give priority attention to mental health patients whenever they visited their facilities.
Dr Soori, who is a Senior Lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), made the appeal when he opened a two-day workshop on Maternal Mental Health for some health professionals, in Sunyani.
It was organised by the Mission of Hope Society (MIHOSO), a health-centered non-governmental organisation, and attended by mental health professionals selected from eight districts in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
The Districts are Asutifi North, Asutifi South, Tano North, Tano South, Asunafo South and Sunyani West, Asunafo North and Sunyani Municipalities.
Dr Soori advised psychiatric nurses to open up and be patient with their clients.
Dr Gabriel Gbiel Benarkuu, the Chief Executive Officer of MIHOSO, explained that the workshop was part of a project being implemented by the NGO in the Region.
It is aimed at enhancing the mental health of pregnant women, mothers and their children, and it is funded by the Department for International Development and UKAID through Basic Needs.
Dr Benarkuu said the three-year project also sought to contribute towards the improvement in the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable women and girls in 18 targeted districts in the Region.
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