…calls for support

The management of Philip Onyekpe Traditional Psychiatric Hospital in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State has decried inadequate funding of the pyschiatric center by the Delta state government.

This was, as newsmen in Agbor paid visit to the hospital during the week.It was observed that the government approved psychiatric hospital under the supervision of Ministry of Woman Affairs, Community and Social Development, Delta State, was with little or no support from the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led administration as what was obtainable by previous governments, was no longer in place for the destitute.

The hospital was only well funded during the Governor James Ibori and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan led governments. Hence, the hospital now faces various challenges.

Speaking to the director of the hospital, Chief Dr. Philip Onyekpe, he explained that the home

has different challenges but notably was the government inadequate funding.

According to him, “under the government of Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, we received #10,000 monthly for the feeding and medical care of one inmate. They would also send clothes and beds for them. Thus encouraging the psychiatric home. But since the inception of this government led by our amiable Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, we only received in estimate, less than #3000 to cater for an inmate for one month which is obviously inadequate, and also considering the inflation in the society.

Today, i have 76 lunatics sent by the government for us to treat and my fear is that we

might not be able to accommodate them due to lack of funds.”Speaking further, Chief Dr. Onyekpe disclosed that on several occasions they have written to government through the Ministry, yet no response was forthcoming.

I don’t have the financial muscle to continuously care for the much inmates which we don’t even know where they are from or their family members as we only treat the mentally sick person and hand over to government having gained sanity,” he added.

He used the medium to solicit support from Governor Okowa led administration as he wish not to record any case of mutuality in his hospital or have the inmates released to start roaming the streets of Delta State.

He also appealed to spirited individuals to come to their aide.

Environment of the hospital

Dr. Philip Onyekpe in one of the male ward
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Source: Ika News Agbor
Ika News: Philip Onyekpe Traditional Psychiatric hospital decries government’s inadequate funding