The New Edubiase Government Hospital located in the Adansi South district of the Ashanti region in Ghana is the only facility that provides mental health services for a district with a total population of 85,200 people. With over a hundred mental health patients seeking care each month, the unit serves as a lifeline for residents not only in the Adansi South District but also for those in the adjoining Adansi North and Assin North Districts who lack access to specialized mental health services.
One of the most pressing challenges faced by the unit is the scarcity of mental health medications. This scarcity is due to the following reasons:
1.The Regional Medical Stores, that is the main source of supply of the medications to government facilities does not routinely purchase and stock psychotherapeutic drugs. It mostly relies on donations that always comes in close to expiry dates and does very little to support the system.
2.User facilities have no means to purchase these drugs and therefore hand out prescriptions to patients after consultation for purchase from the open market.
3.The high cost of these drugs (for example, a 28-day course of Fluoxetine costs GHs150 or 10.68USD) in a precarious economic situation as we have in Ghana where mental health is not considered a priority by most carers lead to a high defaulter rate in drug compliance and ultimately multiple cases of relapse.
The donation of Fluoxetine HCL 20mg Tabs from Women’s Health to Wealth in March 2024 provided a ray of hope amidst these challenges. This donation provided a lifeline for patients who would otherwise struggle to purchase their necessary medication. By easing the burden of medication costs and ensuring the availability of essential medication, this donation has helped stabilize patients' condition and prevent relapses. Moreover, it has provided a sense of relief and assurance to both patients and healthcare providers, knowing that they can rely on the support of donors to fulfill their mission of providing quality mental health care to those in need.
In essence, the donation represents more than just a contribution of medication; it embodies a collective effort to address systemic gaps in mental health care and uplift vulnerable communities. It highlights the importance of collaboration between healthcare institutions and charitable organizations in ensuring equitable access to essential medications and promoting overall well-being.
The Adansi South District Mental Health Coordinator -Seth Wormenor (seated to the right) being assisted by a nurse to fill in the prescription for a patient seated in the extreme left-hand corner.
Photo credit: Women’s Health to Wealth, May 2024.