BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has integrated mental health into its primary health care to try and counter this growing health issue, as part of its front-line service delivery.
Minister for Health, Dr Paul Popora Bosawai told parliament this yesterday in response to questions by Opposition Leader Matthew Wale on the ministry’s plan to expand and improve services to mental patients in the country.
He highlighted that mental health services have been progressively integrated into the primary health care system through the ministry’s role delineation policy.
“This allows for scale-up access in rural and provincial areas by ensuring mental health packages are embedded into our front-line service delivery.
“I would also like to highlight that even our primary health sector needs a good capital injection.
“So that when we want to improve health services, especially when our mental health team goes around, at least we can do one package at the primary health level on health governance and infrastructure.
“And we can’t do this if we are not investing by giving enough capital injection. So, I’m asking our donor partners to help us invest in primary health to increase our packages,” he said.
Bosawai reaffirms the ministry’s commitment on the initiative, which includes compositions of NCD, mental health, and reproductive health awareness programs under the primary health care.
“And in relation to community outreach and crisis response, community engagement continues to be a cornerstone of our approach,” he noted.
In terms of mental health, Bosawai stressed that in Honiara, health teams have been conducting two visits weekly to homes and social rounds to follow up with vulnerable patients.
On that note, he recommended to his colleague minister for Education, Human Resources and Development (MEHRD) to send more scholars to study the field of psychiatrist.
“My colleague, Minister of Education, if you see anyone apply to school for psychiatry, please accept them to increase the number of mental health workers across the country,” Bosawai said.
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