By SALAMATU YUSUF,
Wednesday, October 5, 2005.

To further boost the health care needs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) residents, the FCT Administration has inaugurated a committee on the establishment of Psychiatric Services in the FCT.

Inaugurating the committee secretary Health and Human Services secretariat, Hajiya Aminu Bala Zakari said the actualization of a capital where everything works necessitated the establishment of a befitting psychiatric service to cater for the increasing challenges facing the territory.

The ten man committee consisting of professionals from different sectors of the society, is expected to carry out situational analysis on the availability of facilities and recommend appropriate structural requirements; determine personnel and equipment requirement for immediate take-off and determine relevant logistics and utilities as well as liaise with appropriate Authority such as Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria on the relevant laws/rules and regulations if necessary.
Just as the committee is expected to proffer any other useful information or advice on the successful executionof the programme.

Responding on behalf of the members of the committee, chairman of the committee, Air Cdr. Bashir Yakasai a veteran psychiatric said the committee with joy and honor acknowledges the confidence reposed on it to advise the Minister on the best way to establish Mental Health Services in the FCT, considering the rate at which psychological problems are increasing worldwide.

He gave the pledge that the committee would deliberate on the important challenge foisted on it and device a comprehensive service of international standard that will meet the needs of the patients with mental illness in all situations, while he expressed the hope that the recommendations that would be given by the committee within the two weeks which it is given to submit its report would be beneficial to the entire nation.