MindFreedom Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has commenced a one-year project which seeks to increase advocacy on integrating mental health information and services into community-based immunization programmes.
The project which is being funded by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) of the United States is expected to end in 2023.
It is also to support Community Mental Health Officers and health promotion officers to expand programmes on immunization and advocate for the provision of tailored mental health support to persons with mental health conditions and their caregivers.
This was made known by the Executive Secretary of MindFreedom, Dan Taylor, at a workshop to inaugurate the committee and create a discourse on the issue of mental health.
He said COVID-19 vaccination programmes have not widely targeted persons with mental health conditions.
He added that generally, provisions have not been made for persons with mental health conditions or potential mental health patients.
The Executive Secretary said it is against this backdrop that MindFreedom is implementing the project to address these gaps in immunization service, especially in the context of COVID-19.
The Project Consultant at MindFreedom, Wendy Abbey said the organization has formed networks in implementing areas where members are not only provided with health care to improve the mental health and lives of persons with mental disabilities, but are also equipped with some entrepreneurial skills such as soap and bead making among others.
This she said will help them fend for themselves even at a time when the project is over.
She said similar groups will be formed in the region to foster mental health care.
She called on opinion leaders to help in the implementation process to ensure its success.
