The Accra branch of the Holy Child Past Students Association (HOPSA) has donated some items in support of the Female Acute Ward of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

HOPSA has for over 40 years embarked on charitable deeds by donating annually to the Female Acute Ward of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital to support patients and caretakers to have a better environment for recovery.

The items presented included; industrial items, provisions, toiletries, 43-inch LED TV, fans and chairs.

Akosua Akyaa, a Senior Staff Nurse at the Female Acute Ward bemoaned the stigmatisation against mentally challenged patients while receiving the presentation on behalf of the Hospital.

She called on family members of mentally challenged victims to step up efforts towards recovery of their loved ones.

“Receiving support like this is invaluable for us. It brings joy because we now have resources to care for them and, most importantly, bring smiles to their faces.

“Sometimes relatives even want to abandon them…the family also plays a role. Family is not helping in any way. At least the family is supposed to let the community know that patients have received treatment but because the stigma even starts right from when patients have been admitted, there is no excitement when patients recover and go home,” she lamented.  

The Association emphasised the need for more charitable deeds towards Psychiatric Hospitals due to the challenging nature of their work.

Rev. Father Benjamin Ohene, who gave the exhortation commended HOPSA on their continuous support of the ward in line with their school motto: Facta Non Verba.