A message from our president
I see a vision that one day mentally ill people in Nigeria will have a voice , that stigmatisation of the mentally ill will be frowned upon and that both the public and private sectors will put resources towards supporting sufferers and families of mentally ill people. I see a future when society will see people addicted to substances as requiring treatment and support rather than punishment.
Our youth are now faced with the menace of drug abuse. They are our future. Should we sleep and watch this cancer eat up our society? We need strategies focused on prevention.I desire a complete reconnection and reintegration of the mentally ill with the rest of society.I uphold the principles of Equality and access to health services.
My understanding of the needs of the mentally ill and the holistic nature of the treatment required compared to the dearth of resources available in Nigeria for our people has grown an insatiable appetite to support on-going initiatives for a better life for the mentally ill. It will be my joy to wipe the tears off the eyes of those families who live with sufferers of mental illness.
A friend once told me of a brother of his who had become very rich and residing in America. I asked him, how many people his brother has unconditionally cared for. Do we see ourselves as conduits through which resources are channeled to the less privileged? When we say we are very rich could it mean we are holding onto the wealth of some others?
The Good Samaritan did the best he could to “care for someone else” People with religious positions walked by but did not care. Do we care? Some religious communities of today lack selfless carers. Do we only care for relatives, friends and those that will sing our praises? Do we understand why it is important to support NGOs/charities? Jesus, at his time of death, despite his pain was caring and praying for the person next to him.
I pray for the grace of God as Reconnect commences the journey towards “seeking a better tomorrow” for the mentally ill, the substance abuser and their families”
Dr. Vincent Udenze
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