President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday directed the Ministry of Health to form a mental health taskforce.
90 days dedicated to mental health in Kenya
President Uhuru Kenyatta orders appointment of Mental Health Taskforce to look into the status of mental health in Kenya
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During a cabinet meeting held at State house Nairobi, President Kenyatta mandated the taskforce with the duty to report on the status of mental health in the country within the next 90 days.
"The President directed the Ministry of Health to establish a taskforce on the status of mental health in country and come up with new policies needed to address the growing concerns about mental health among Kenyans.
President Uhuru Kenyatta orders appointment of Mental Health Taskforce to look into the status of mental health in Kenya
Pulse Live Kenya
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"The findings of the taskforce which will be discussed in Cabinet within 90 days will assist government in allocation of resources to mental health," a brief from State House read in part.
Mathari Hospital upgraded to Level IV
During the cabinet meeting, the Executive also approved the elevation of Mathari Hospital to a Level IV, national facility.
Mathari Hospital is the nations best known and most trusted public facility for mental health treatment.
"The Cabinet approved the establishment of Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital and the designation of Gilgil Hospital as a satellite mental health facility of Mathari," the statement outlined.
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Sign post to the Mathari National Hospital (Twitter)
Pulse Live Kenya
Experts have warned that the rise in cases of homicide and domestic violence could be attributed to mental health issues among Kenyans.
Some of the most shocking incidents to-date have been the murder of Ivy Wangeci in Eldoret by one Naftali Kinuthia and the case of University of Nairobi lecturer Hannah Inyama who kept the decomposing body of her 13-year-old son for 10 days.
