Essential Ndubuisi
The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba has been hit by a shortage of occupational therapists, with increasing numbers leaving the country for better opportunities abroad. Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, the medical director of the hospital, has called on the government to take action to address the challenges facing mental healthcare in Nigeria.
Speaking during the convocation ceremonies of the Federal School of Occupational Therapy, Owoeye explained that the school, established in 2003, is the only one of its kind in the West African sub-region. Due to infrastructural challenges, the school has produced fewer than 300 graduates, and many of these are in high demand abroad.
Owoeye emphasized that the shortage of occupational therapists is a significant challenge for the hospital, as patient treatment is incomplete without their input. He called on the government to provide support for infrastructure and manpower, making the training and practice environment more conducive.
During the convocation, the hospital announced the automatic job appointment for the top five graduating students, and Owoeye urged the graduates to be professional in their work. He added that the hospital is proud of its product and is committed to retaining as many graduates as possible.
Occupational therapists play a crucial role in mental healthcare and other medical fields. As Mr. Adeoso Akinwole, the acting principal of the school, explained, they are responsible for facilitating the reintegration of patients back into society. The best graduating students of the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 sets expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to work in the hospital’s environment and hoped that it would encourage other students to work hard.
The shortage of occupational therapists at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba highlights the need for urgent action to address the challenges facing mental healthcare in Nigeria. The government must provide support for infrastructure and manpower to produce more occupational therapists and make the training and practice environment more conducive.
