House Decries Rising Cases Of Mental Health

By Oduyemi Odumade

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare, Mr. Alex Egbona, says the challenge of rising cases of mental health in the country requires proper oversight and legislative intervention.

According to him, the same applies to other health related challenges under the jurisdiction of the Committee.

Egbona who stated this during the inauguration of the Committee at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja said the Committee on Specialty HealthCare was established pursuant to sections 62, 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Standing Orders of the House of Representatives to ensure effective oversight of the health sector of the economy.

He explained that the mandate of the Committee covers all Specialist Hospitals, Orthopaedic Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, Eye Hospitals, Blood Transfusion Services, Ear Care Centres, Obstetrics Fistula Centres, Schools of Dental Technology and Oral Health Programmes in Nigeria, Schools of Occupational Therapy, Colleges of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Schools of Medical Laboratory Technology, and annual budget estimates of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to be jointly overseen with related Health Committees of the House.

In the bid to effectively discharge its statutory function, he tasked all members to show commitment and dedication in carrying out their duties.

“As you may be aware, new orthopaedic and neuropsychiatric hospitals were recently established in parts of the country that require legislative and legal frameworks. The challenge of raising cases of mental health in the country and other health-related challenges under the jurisdiction of the Committee requires proper oversight and legislative intervention”.

“By the powers vested in me as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare, I therefore formally inaugurate the Committee for maximum legislative performance and effective oversight.”

Mr. Egbona also disclosed that the joint Senate and House Committee scrutinised the 2024 budget and transmitted the report to the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, for further legislative action.

Edited By Grace Namiji