Calistus Wekesa, Founder Afya Care Foundation addressing youths in Busia About mental issues, he called on the ministry of health to include mental health education in the education curriculum. Photo: Ezzy Photography.
Majoring his focus on youth, Calistus Wekesa, founder Afya Care Foundation is championing mental health awareness among youths across schools in some section of North Rift and Western Region.
Afya Care Foundation, is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that champions mental wellness among youths aged 13-35, as well as implementation of programs against drug abuse and substance abuse.
According to him, the neglected large population is hugely disadvantaged to access to mental health education, despite being the hopeful future of the nation, as well as the continent.
He argues that an appreciated section of the older generation can access mental health information at their workplace, through tailored job programs that offer mental health education and how to maintain a healthy mind.
“We are focusing on youth because they are the future of the country and are often marginalized, a majority of them cannot manage themselves, as compared to a section of elders who can access mental health education in their workplace, Afya Care Foundation steps in to cushion this generation,” Wekesa explained.
The worrying trend on drug and substance abuse, called Wekesa and the team,
“These are cases that have become a menace in the society today, and statistics are going up everyday, as one in six youths is abusing drugs. We go round schools talking to students how to identify those with mental issues and using drugs, educate them on how they can prevent this rising cases of drug abuse ad mental health issues, by talking to their confidants to receive help,” he further explained.
His colleague Neccim Okumu, echoed the need of mental awareness among youths, coordinator of Afya Care Foundation Busia, said the flow of drugs is high from the neighboring country Uganda, aided by the porous border.
He said the campaign is geared towards cushioning the youths against the many factors including high poverty level in the county that leads to mental health issues. He urged a collaboration of the ministry of health, and that of education to settle and implement mental health education as a curriculum in the education system to cushion the future generation. sentiments echoed by Wekesa.
“We calling of interaction between the ministry of health, NGOs and that education that deals with creating mental awareness so that together we can approach this issue with a multi-disciplinary approach to see the issue addressed well,” he stated.
This comes as Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen called out youths venting about the failures of government on social media as suffering from mental health related issues.
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