Refugees and host communities have gained hope for recovery from mental health disorders as Alliance Forum for Development (AFOD Uganda), a renown national NGO launched on the 11th November 2022 a fundraising drive to build the first of its kind mental health rehabilitation center in Adjumani district on a 10 acres piece of land located in Rende village, Pachara Sub County in Adjumani town. The event brought on board the government, civil society organizations, partners, medical fraternity and the community at BOMA grounds. This came after the world commemorated world mental health day on October 10th to raise awareness on issues of mental health premised on the commitment to make mental health a global priority.
Under the theme “Unite for Mental Health. Leave No One Behind. A Call to Commit” AFOD’s fundraising event resonated with the global mental health message and was a response to the urgent need to prioritize mental health services in Uganda. In the West Nile sub-region, a home to not only nationals but also over three hundred thousand refugees makes it a hotbed for mental health disorders as pointed by Dr. Jimmy Drametu, the district health officer (DHO) Adjumani.
“Prevalence of Depression in Adjumani and west Nile region mainly among adolescents, youth and young women is estimated at 25% and this translates to about 100,000 depression cases.” said Dr. Drametu.
This statement was backed by a baseline survey conducted in 2021 by AFOD-Uganda and EACAS in Adjumani District which indicated a growing increase in mental health issues with 86% of households in refugee settlements and the host communities suffering from mental health issues.
The Minister for Northern Uganda Hon Ms. Grace Freedom Kwiyuchwiny who graced the occasion as the chief fundraiser observed that the high number of mental health cases as highlighted by AFOD and Adjumani district health officer could be attributed to the high poverty levels in northern Uganda where 52% of the households are living below the poverty line. She made a rallying call to the government, partners, leaders of Adjumani and Northern Uganda to support AFOD’s commitment to restoring hope for mental health patients highlighting,
“A sick population is not synonymous with development but rather poverty. Everyone in the audience is part of AFOD’s family and we all ought to contribute and support to establish this facility”
Hon. grace Kwiyuchwiny
According to the Executive Director AFOD Uganda, Mr. Arizi Primo Vunni, AFOD plans to construct an ultra-modern Mental Health Rehabilitation facility over a span of three years at a cost of over $1.35m to serve both the host communities and refugees in West Nile region providing a holistic package of integrated mental health rehabilitation services. The ED pointed that,
“Our shared community empowerment efforts will amount to nothing if there is no unity to combat the mental health challenges in the region.”
With majority of Ugandans living below the poverty line, access to mental health is difficult since services are not only inaccessible but also expensive. Most mental disorders that require specialized rehabilitation services cannot be accessed by patients in Northern Uganda because of lack of a regional and district Rehabilitation facilities and the few centers available are privately owned, mainly located in the central region and the costs cannot be afforded by an average Ugandan.
As the curtains fell on the fundraising event, the hope of refugees, host communities, partners and the public are vested in the establishment of a mental health facility that will bridge the gaps in service access. AFOD hopes to raise over 5 billion to construct the facility and to achieve this, all stakeholders are called upon to unite and make mental health a national priority by supporting to raise the needed funds to establish a safe space for mental wellness by 2025.
