Peter Obi, former Anambra governor, has commended the Seraphic Homes Foundation for building a N600 million psychiatric Hospital and Old People’s Home in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Areas (LGA).
Mr Obi described the action of the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach (ZPMOM) under the leadership of its spiritual director, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi, as a “noble initiative to serve humanity” .
Mr Obi made the commendation in a press statement made available to journalists, by his media aide, Valentine Obienyem, in Awka on Saturday.
He said that mental health should be taken seriously, noting that his administration’s investments in the state-owned Nawfia Psychiatric Hospital in Njikoka LGA, through the provision of modern buildings and equipment.
Mr Obi, former presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), dismissed misconceptions that psychiatric facilities portrayed a community negatively, explaining that such investments were vital in societies that genuinely cared for their people.
He said that the significance of the facility, referenced a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report indicating that over 20 million Nigerians currently live with mental health challenges arising from economic hardship and stress.
He further expressed concern about the growing menace of drug abuse among youths, recommending that secondary school students undertake excursions to psychiatric facilities to better understand the dangers of substance abuse.
Mr Obi lauded the free service facility donated by ZPMOM which included the elderly home component and described it as a restoration of dignity and respect to senior citizens who were often neglected.
He emphasised that caring for the aged was not merely charity but a moral duty and a true measure of society’s humanity.
Mr Obi encouraged the foundation’s director for his unwavering commitment to a better Nigeria, and called for increased attention to mental health and elderly care across the nation.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, inaugurated the N600 million psychiatric hospital and old people’s home built by the foundation, a non-profit charity organisation set up by ZPMOM on Friday.
The hospital, located in Aguleri community, Anambra East LGA of the state, is designed to provide complete free psychiatric care to individuals battling mental illnesses.
Also, the body, barely five months ago, opened a gigantic Orphanage and Old People’s Home in Mgbirichi, Owerri in Imo State.
A comprehensive care including diagnosis, treatment, medication, rehabilitation, accommodation, and welfare would be provided to patients all at no cost to them or their families at the facility.
The foundation director, Ebuka Obi, said that the initiative was his childhood vision and that the plan was to touch lives across the country.
The hospital will start functioning fully from October.
(NAN)