Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has signed into law a bill on mental health services.

Fayemi while signing the bill into law on Monday, reiterated his administration’s commitment to providing quality health services to the people of the state.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that people living with mental disorders have access to appropriate care, adding that catering for the welfare of all members of the society regardless of their physical, mental or social status was indicative of the level of commitment to delivering universal health coverage.

The Governor said the law would protect, provide, care and treat persons living with mental health disorders to save them from unnecessary stigma and marginalization which increase the likelihood of their human rights being violated. He added that the framework would handle critical issues of hospitalization and provision of high-quality care among others.

He said the core objectives of the law include establishing purpose-built mental health facilities and medical Social Work Department and units in selected secondary and tertiary medical facilities, as well as guarantee the protection of persons suffering from a mental disorder or illness and substance abuse in the state.

Other objectives, according to him include ensuring that every person living with mental disorders have access to mental health care facilities by receiving and being admitted for treatment in a designated facility.