Jinja District Psychosis Medical Officer Emmanuel Mufumba has expressed concern over the increased cases of mental illness in the district.
Mufumba says that the number of mental cases has increased this year as compared to last year.
He disclosed that in 2011 only 1270 cases were registered as compared to 2300 cases registered within 6 months 0f 2012.
He attributes the trend to alcohol and drug abuse, depression, poverty, accidents among other causes.
Mufumba further listed Measles, Malaria and Typhoid as some of the diseases that can also cause mental disorder when not treated in time.
According to the Ministry of Health, up to 20% of Uganda’s population has some degree of mental illness, ranging from anxiety and depression to severe madness. This represents close to seven million out of the 35 million Ugandans.
