Makinde’s Administration Vows to Integrate Mental Health into Disaster Response
By Adewale Owoade
The Oyo State Government, through the Ministry of Health, joined the global community on Friday to mark the 2025 World Mental Health Day under the theme “Access to Mental Health Services in Catastrophes and Emergencies.”
At an event held at the ministry’s car park in Ibadan, Health Commissioner Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi (represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Akintunde Ayinde) described mental health as a cornerstone of public health and human resilience, especially during disasters such as epidemics, floods, conflict or economic shocks.
“This is the first official state‑level celebration of the day in Oyo,” Dr. Ajetunmobi said. “Psychological wounds often linger far longer than physical ones, so mental health must be a core part of our emergency preparedness, resilience and recovery strategies.”
She highlighted Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to mental‑health reform, citing ongoing projects: Renovation of Primary Health Care (PHC) centres to expand mental‑health services.
Deployment of psychiatrists to general hospitals, and appointment of mental‑health focal persons in all 33 local government areas.
The commissioner announced the formation of a State Mental Health Technical Working Group to coordinate emergency protocols, rapid‑response teams and psychological‑first‑aid training, working with civil society, academia, NGOs and traditional institutions.
Partners such as the Asido Foundation and New World Specialist Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre were commended for their technical and financial support.
Keynote speaker Dr. Shina Fakunle, consultant psychiatrist at Ring Road State Hospital, Ibadan, underscored the scarcity of mental‑health professionals in Nigeria—fewer than 300 psychiatrists for over 200 million people—and called for integration of mental health into primary, secondary and tertiary care.
In his goodwill message, Dr. Taiwo Okunade, a guest speaker, reflected on the impact of economic hardship on mental well-being, describing prolonged financial instability as a “quiet catastrophe.”
He lauded Governor Makinde’s consistent payment of salaries as a stabilizing factor for civil servants’ mental well-being.
Professor Jubril Abdulmalik of the Asido Foundation urged full integration of mental health into maternal, child and infectious‑disease services, noting this was the first official observance in the state’s history.
The commemoration was jointly organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Health, Asido Foundation, and New World Specialist Hospital, drawing together healthcare professionals, civil‑society actors, academics and mental‑health advocates to chart a path toward a stronger mental‑health system in Oyo.
