Northern Bahr El Ghazal rolls out treatment for mentally ill people

People with mental illness in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, will no longer struggle to seek for treatment outside the state after authorities announced having equipped several health facilities to provide services.

Lual Aleu Jok, the health focal point for the state ministry of health told Juba Echo on Wednesday that mental treatment services are now being provided free to patients in Malek-alek, Nyamlel and Malualkon health centers.

 He revealed that Aweil town has got it’s own center offering treatment to mentally ill patients.

Jok said that people suffering trauma due to years of conflict are also eligible to receive the free treatment and counseling.

He said the brutal years of conflict since outbreak in December 2013 are partly to blame for the high number of traumatized people in the state.

Jok said the state ministry of health has secured medicines for treating mental illness from the Malaria Consortium, Health Net and International Rescue Committee.