BasicNeeds-Ghana, a mental health advocacy organisation, has presented psychotropic and anti-epileptic medicines to health facilities in northern Ghana to help in the treatment of mental health patients.
The beneficiary facilities included Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale Central Hospital, Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Upper West Regional Hospital and Sunyani Regional Hospital.
The medicines, worth $3,943,740.44, were a donation from Direct Relief, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in the United States, and the medicines were cleared at the port by Breast Care International, also an NGO.
Adam Dokurugu Yahaya, Programmes Manager of BasicNeeds-Ghana, who presented the medicines to the beneficiary facilities in Tamale, said the medicines came as a big relief as they would help to ease the burden that mental health patients and their families endure trying to access treatment.
Mr Dokurugu Yahaya said the medicines could last for more than six months and would help to address the challenge of shortage of drugs to treat mental health patients.
He said the medicines were a donation, urging the beneficiary facilities not to charge patients for the medicines.
Mr Joseph Yere, Brong- Ahafo Regional Coordinator of Mental Health, thanked BasicNeeds-Ghana and donors for their support.
-GNA