Pick up recovered mental health patients from Mathare Hospital, Nakhumicha appeals

Health CS Susan Nakhumicha. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has discouraged Kenyans from neglecting recovered mental health patients at various health facilities.

The CS has also urged Kenyans with recovered patients at Mathare Mental Hospital to pick them up from the facility. 

She made the sentiments on Tuesday afternoon during an impromptu visit to Mathare National Hospital in Nairobi. Here she interacted with the patients and medics.

While addressing the media, CS Nakhumicha also revealed that some Kenyans had been notified to pick their kin but defied.

“I want to ask Kenyans whose relatives are in this facility and have been treated and recuperated, to come pick them up. We will try and contact those we can to come for their patients,” the CS said.

“There are those who have recovered and their families have been notified but they have refused to come pick them. That is not good,” she added. 

To address the shortcomings of the country’s top mental health hospital, the CS has pledged to add more specialists at Mathare Hospital and address the drug shortage. 

In addition, the Health CS says she will work with Labor CS Florence Bore to create a safe haven for neglected patients to restart their lives.

In an early morning interview on Radio Maisha, Nakhumicha revealed the ministry’s plans of launching the Universal Health Coverage program during this year's Maashujaa Day.