At present, the DMHP office is shares a building with the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) at the Dimapur District Hospital premises. (Morung Photo)
Mongsentong Longkumer
Dimapur | October 5
Having the means to provide adequate care for patients is a necessity in every health care facility. Patients with mental disorders are just as much entitled to seek treatment for their illnesses. In Dimapur, the District Mental Health programme (DMHP) is the responsible authority to protect, promote and fulfil the rights of such persons during delivery of mental healthcare and services.
“However, currently the DMHP is functioning on a tight budget with no government funding available,” stated Dr Temsuyanger, psychiatrist, senior medical officer (SMO), DMHP. “It is actually a priority field but one of the most neglected areas of the medical department.”
At present, their office is located in a building which also houses the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) at the Dimapur District Hospital premises.
The DDRC along with DMHP faces a similar situation with regard to lack of financial support from the state authorities. Dr Imlitemsu Ozukum, MD (PMR), Senior Specialist and in-charge of DDRC had explained, “DDRC is a place which is supposed to give all the facilities for the People with Disabilities (PwDs), such as treatment, rehabilitation and assistive devices such as wheel chair, blind sticks and hearing aids.”
However, he said that currently the centre is in dire need of equipments, trained workforce and more spacious areas for the patients. Besides this, he also mentioned that the DDRC lacks sufficient funds to keep the centre up and running properly.
State Mental Health Authority yet to be set up
For now, Dr Temsuyanger and his medical team at the DMHP were able to keep the office operational from funds issued through the Result Based Finding (RBF) report. “But nothing much can be done for creating awareness at the district level,” he said.
The crux of the matter lies in the fact that till today, the government has failed to set up a proper functioning State Mental Authority (SMA). This is mandated in section 45 of the Mental Health Care Act, 2017.
Accordingly the SMA is tasked to constitute a Mental Health Review board in all the districts without which nothing can be initiated for the purpose of implementing the provisions of the Act, stated a Writ Petition which was heard by the Kohima bench of Gauhati High court earlier on September 14. This includes funding as well.
The state government was granted another three weeks time to present their statements to the Court before the next hearing.
Unsuitable location
According to government guidelines, the office of the DMHP should be situated in the main building of the OPD ward, the medical official explained. This is meant to prevent the air of stigma around patients seeking treatment.
But due to the lack of space, the DMHP wing has been situated in a separate building of the hospital for the last 6-7 years.
There were currently 2091 registered patients in the district of Dimapur. Severe depression and anxiety were among the most common ailments. “But that is the tip of the iceberg, there could be more below the water level,” he noted. Extensive awareness campaigns are still required at the grassroots, he said, adding that the menace of drug use has increased in the last few years among the youths.
The Dimapur DMHP is also tasked with monitoring the two newly created districts of Chümoukedima and Niuland. “Till such time as to when similar posts are created by the government, we are looking after these two districts as well,” the medical official mentioned.
