This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
On May 9, 2020, a 120-bed capacity centre was officially opened in Mombasa to cater for the medical and basic needs of mentally handicapped individuals in the wake of Covid-19. The centre, a partnership between Mombasa County and the Women Empowerment Network, aims to provide a safe haven for those affected by mental health disorders.
Speaking during the launch, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of mentally ill individuals, who have been left vulnerable during the pandemic. 'The state is in the race against time to ensure that no person is left openly exposed to the deadly coronavirus,' she said.
The centre, located at the Mombasa Technical Training Institute, will provide a range of services, including medical care, counseling, and rehabilitation. The Mombasa Women Empowerment Network Chair, Amina Abdalla, highlighted the need for special focus on mentally ill individuals during the pandemic, stating that 'coronavirus poses new challenges for many people with mental illnesses.'
With the centre now operational, authorities in Mombasa will begin rounding up mentally ill individuals from the streets and taking them to the facility for care and treatment. The head of the Department of Health care in Mombasa County, Celina Kithinji, has ensured that there are enough nurses and medication available for the mentally ill at the centre.
