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By Muinat Usman
The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has called for the integration of mental health services into the country’s Primary Healthcare (PHC) system to improve access to care and reduce the burden of untreated mental health conditions, particularly among women.
The association made the call during its National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting and Scientific Conference, Harmony 2026, held in Ilorin, Kwara State, with the theme: “Mental Health and Well-being of Women Across the Life Course.”
Speaking at the event, MWAN National President, Dr. Zainab Muhammad-Idris, described mental health as a critical public health and development issue that demands urgent national attention.
She noted that women face multiple challenges, including gender inequality, financial hardship, insecurity, violence, discrimination and caregiving responsibilities, all of which have significant effects on their mental well-being.
Dr. Muhammad-Idris urged governments, healthcare professionals and development partners to strengthen collaboration, promote community-based mental health interventions, influence policies and ensure that mental health services are fully integrated into all healthcare programmes.
Also speaking, Kwara State MWAN President, Dr. Omotayo Oyinloye, appealed to governments at all levels to incorporate mental health services into primary healthcare centres nationwide.
She explained that integrating mental healthcare into PHCs would make treatment more accessible, particularly for people in underserved communities who cannot easily reach specialist hospitals.
Dr. Oyinloye further stressed the need to equip primary healthcare workers with the skills to identify common mental health conditions, provide basic treatment and refer complex cases to specialists.
She described mental health as fundamental to overall well-being, family stability, productivity and national development, noting that the emotional burdens borne by many women often go unnoticed because of societal expectations.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Mosunmola Tunde-Ayinmode, said Nigeria continues to face a significant mental health burden, worsened by substance abuse and the shortage of mental health professionals.
She disclosed that fewer than 250 psychiatrists are currently practising in Nigeria, attributing the shortage largely to the migration of healthcare professionals in search of better opportunities abroad.
Prof. Tunde-Ayinmode advocated the use of digital platforms to expand access to mental healthcare services, reduce treatment costs and improve patient outcomes.
She also called for the effective implementation of the Mental Health Act and urged Nigerians to reject the stigma surrounding mental illness, stressing that mental health conditions can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or social status.
Editing: Abdullah Ahmed
