A mental health clinic has been opened in Abwoc village, Onyako sub-county in Omoro district.
Without giving any statistics, health official says it has established to address the high rate of death by suicide in the area.
Ms. Akello Immaculate – a mental health officer in charge Gulu regional referral hospital, on Friday says there is soaring rate of suicides in the district.
Named Abwoch Guna Mental Health Community Centre [AGMHCC], she says the health unit was constructed with funding from Sheffield Health International Partnerships at a tune of Uganda shillings 56 million.
“This clinic is set strategically to address the high rate of mental cases in the area and the rate of suicide and suicidal tendency among the community of this area especially in Koro and Onyako sub-counties,” she added.
“The center will provide different health services related to mental illness such as counseling, and will be used by the health workers to bring closer mental health services nearer and to decongest regional mental health unit at referral hospital,” Ms Akello says at the launch Friday.
Lily Oroma who’s the chairperson of Two-pe Kinyero, also a victim of mental illness, while addressing residents of Abwoch Guna said that they are still being stigmatized by both residents and leaders, adding that they have been denied to benefit from most government programs at sub-county level.
Ocitti William, the Onyako sub-county LC3 chairperson rubbishes stigmatization claim among mental health people, defending that they all have rights to benefit from government program.
He also advised them to form groups to easily benefit from such projects and also to get support from NGOs.
Also, Okello Doglus Okoa, the Omoro district LC5 chairperson said that the level of mental problem among community in Acholi sub-region is still alarming.
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