Acting DG Amoth (centre) and other state officials [Photo: MoH/Twitter]
The Ministry of Health (MOH) says Kenya has marked another significant milestone in developing its Mental Health Investment Case.
This was announced in a speech by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe read by the Acting Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth during the launch of the document on Tuesday.
The Ministry says Kenya is among the few countries in the East African region with a Mental Health Action Plan (2021-2025).
The Action plan provides a framework for both National and County Governments, as well as other stakeholders to implement the Mental Health Policy and Taskforce recommendations.
“This mental health investment case aims to provide an economic analysis of the benefits of scaled-up action and country-specific recommendations on the most feasible, cost-effective next steps,” said Dr. Amoth.
Dr Amoth noted that historically mental health in Kenya has faced several challenges, including; scarce and inaccessible mental health services, a limited mental health workforce, and inadequate budgetary allocation to mental health.
“To address these issues, it is incumbent on the Government of Kenya to Invest in evidence-based, cost-effective clinical & population-based mental health interventions modeled in the investment case at this critical crux in the history of mental healthcare in Kenya,” he said.
He then noted that the investment in mental health could result in several possible benefits;
- Health impact: improvements in the health or functional status of the target population.
- Financial impact: allowing the beneficiaries of the intervention to go back to work or school & work more productively or improve their financial situation.
- Social impact: providing benefits for others, such as reducing caregiving time spent by family members or friends.
Amoth stated that the Kenya Mental Health Investment Case report will guide the government in making investment decisions, interventions, and strategies.
It will also serve as a tool for advocating for the inclusion of mental health in the health and socioeconomic agendas, among other things.