By: SHALLON S. GONLOR
ZEKEPA, NIMBA CO.— During the celebration of World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2024, Nimba County Health Team, Mental Health Department amplified a call aimed to raise awareness on mental health care.
The day provides an opportunity for stakeholders to talk about mental health issue, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. The Mental Health Department of the Nimba County Health Team uniting with partners, highlights the vital connection between mental health and work; safe, healthy working environments as a protective factor for mental health.
The team of medical experts converged Thursday in Zekepa noted further that unhealthy conditions including stigma, discrimination, and exposure to risks like harassment and other poor working conditions, can pose siq risks, affecting mental health, overall qu gnificantality of life and consequently participation or productivity at work.
Further noting that urgent action is needed to ensure work prevents risks to mental health and protects and supports mental health at work. World mental health day is an important health awareness event witnessed every year on 10 October to create awareness and promote the importance of mental health in one’s life and society. This day aims to educate people about the stigma of mental illness, and encouraging people to support the cause, and establish a healthy environment in all aspects of life to support mental health.
For her part, Nimba County Superintendent, Kou Meapeh Gono committed herself to rally support for people with epilepsy disease. Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects people of all ages. Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally. Amid call to help support people with epilepsy, Superintendent Kou Meapea Gono has stressed the need to provide care and rally government support.
Addressing scores of citizens in Zekepa on Thursday October 10, 2024 during the celebration of World Mental Day, Gono admonished Nimbains and Liberians that providing care and support for people suffering from the illness needs a collective efforts. She indicated that epilepsy is a sickness that one can be born with it or can get it when you are already born, but can be treated.
The Nimba County governor mentioned that epilepsy is a common illness even in develop country, but has treatment given to the patients. Madam Gono dismissed the perception that epilepsy can be spread through the touching of the person’s fluid, adding that she has worked with epilepsy person over the years. She cautioned the public to stop the discrimination and stigmatization against those suffering from the illness.
Speaking to persons with epilepsy, Superintendent Gono encourage them to regularly take their medication to make them well. Madam Gono added that the medication is not like polio vaccine that can be administered once or twice every year, but it is a medication that needs to be taken every day.
She called on caretakers to always join hands by reminding their family who are taking the medication not to always take it on time. Madam Gono mentioned that mental Health has different categories and almost everyone has suffered from it. “On behalf of the county Administration, now that we are aware of this situation, I will remained them to put budget there for such condition”.
She pledged the Nimba County administration willingness to work with those providing the medication, the patients and the county Health team to ensure that the message go across and those receiving medication continue. She lauded Vice President Jeremiah Koung for his level of support render to the campaigners to eradicate epilepsy. The County Superintendent further cautioned every meaningful citizens to full the good example of the Vice President by making sure that every citizens are well.
