Kigali, March7, 2022. Rwanda Biomedical Centre urges the public to avert stigma about mental health for effective use of mental health services that are available from health centres to the Referral hospitals across the country. The call was made during the press conference that was organised by RBC through Mental Health Division on 7 April 2022 in Kigali City.
In the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda considered mental health as a priority due to the most horrific tragedy that befell our country. In 1995 a mental health policy mandated all health facilities to deliver mental health services across the country.
Dr. Yvonne Kayiteshonga, the Division Manager of Mental Health Division said, “We have a unique history as a country that went through the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, there are still mental health issues that are related to the Genocide against the Tutsi. However, in Rwanda, we have established mental health programs and services as well as other various health programs’’.
Mental health has been considered as a priority area within the health sector in Rwanda. After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the country built a mental health infrastructure with the mental health care delivered at all levels of the health system.
In addition to 3 specialized mental health services (Ndera Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Huye Isange Rehabilitation Center, Icyizere psychotherapy Center), there are mental health departments in 4 national referral services (CHUK, CHUB, Rwanda Military Hospital, King Faisal Hospital). There are also mental health units in 46 districts and provincial hospitals. In Rwanda, there are at least two mental health care providers in the health centre. Moreover, Community Health workers have been trained to identify symptoms of mental health issues in a bid to refer the patients to the next level of care.
Dr. Iyamuremye Jean Damascene, the Director of Psychiatric Unit in Mental Health Division at RBC called upon all individuals who may have mental health problems to use mental health services from health facilities that are nearer to their residence. Dr. Iyamuremyi urged people who are closer to the persons with mental health problems to help them reach the health facilities for treatment.
In a Survey conducted by Rwanda Mental Health in 2018 revealed that the most popular mental health problem in Rwanda is depression, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and substance use disorders, psychotic disorders, suicidal behavior disorders. Some of the reasons that prevent people from access mental health services includes lack of knowledge about where to seek mental health services, mental illness stigma, Traditional beliefs, cultural and religious beliefs.