National Mental Health Day celebrations were held at Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. The guest of honor was the Principal Secretary, State Department for Medical Services, Mr. Harry Kimutai.
In his address on behalf of partners working in mental health, HERAF Executive Director, Edward Munene committed that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) would continue to complement government’s efforts in mental health services delivery. In addition, he retaliated that CSOs would also hold the government to account for the commitments made on mental health. These include:
- Making Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital autonomous from the Ministry of Health.
- Ensuring more indicators for mental health are included in Kenya Health Information System (KDHIS) to enable routing data collection for decision making.
- Integrating mental health into the training curriculum and services for Community Health Promoters (CHPs).
- Strengthening of mental health services at dispensary and health centres by ensuring HCWs have trainings on mental health and mental health drugs are available at all times.
- Ensuring all outpatients mental health services from primary to national referral level facilities are fully covered by NHIF card and form part of Universal Health Coverage Essential Benefit Package.
Inclusion of all severe mental health into social protection schemes without discrimination
