Rising mental health challenge requires proper oversight, legislative intervention, says Rep Egbona

By Christiana Ekpa

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare, Hon Alex Egbona, has said the challenge of rising cases of mental health in the country require proper oversight and legislative intervention.
He said same applies to other health related challenges under the jurisdiction of the Committee.
He said this during the inauguration of the Committee at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
He said fhe Committee on Specialty HealthCare is established pursuant to sections 62, 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Standing Orders of the House of Representatives to ensure effective oversight of the health sector of the economy.
“The Honorable Speaker graciously appointed me to lead you my honourable colleagues on this assignment with Hon. Lawan Shettima as Deputy Chairman.
“The mandate of the Committee covers all Specialist Hospitals, Orthopaedic Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, Eye Hospitals, Blood Transfusion Services, Ear Care Centres, Obstetrics Fistula Centres, Schools of Dental Technology and Oral Health Programmes in Nigeria, Schools of Occupational Therapy, Colleges of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Schools of Medical Laboratory Technology, and annual budget estimates of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to be jointly oversighted with related Health Committees of the House.
“I am happy to note that this Committee is made up of well-respected and experienced Members, including ranking Members of the House of Representatives and I am personally grateful to the Speaker for finding me worthy to Chair the Committee.
“I therefore urge all Members to show commitment and dedication in carrying out our duties. As you may be aware new Orthopaedic and Neuro-Psychiatric Hospitals were recently established in parts of the country that require legislative and legal frameworks, the challenge of raising cases of mental health in the country and other health related challenges under the jurisdiction of the Committee require proper oversight and legislative intervention.
“By the powers vested on me as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare, I therefore formally inaugurate the Committee for maximum legislative performance and effective oversight.”