The Kebbi government has distributed free drugs to about 27,000 mental health patients across the 21 local government areas of the state.

The commissioner for special duties, Zayyanu Umar-Aliero, made this known at Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua General Hospital, Zauro, on Saturday.

”The distribution of drugs today marks another commencement of the fortnightly dispensation of free medical treatment to persons with psychiatric problems.

”Gov. Nasir Idris mandated my ministry to resolve all issues about the treatment of people with mental illnesses to ensure there is continuity in the availability and distribution of free drugs for their treatment.

”The government advises parents and guardians to strictly adhere to prescription in administering the drugs on their children and relations to avoid complications and also avoid selling the drugs for self-benefit,” he advised.

Mr Umar-Aliero also announced that the state government had added free feeding and transportation for the patients from all 21 state councils.

This, he said, would make their transportation and treatment easier and more accessible for effective results.

”New patients being registered are also granted the similar opportunity of free feeding, free transport and free drugs, which had helped to reduce significantly persons with mental illness in the state,” the commissioner said.

Earlier, Dr Shamsudeen Isma’il, the consultant psychiatrist in the hospital, said the drugs were available and would last through the target period of patients’ treatment.

The state chairman, Zakat and Sadaqat Board, Sheikh Umar Isah, led the commissioner and officials of the ministry to supervise the distribution of the drugs and feeding to patients at the hospital.

(NAN)