Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation (CALMHAF) and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening access to mental healthcare for Nigerians.
The MoU was signed under a joint programme titled the “Total Care Mind and Body Initiative.”
Speaking after the signing on Monday in Enugu, the Founder and Executive Director of CALMHAF, Rev. Chukwudiebube Nwachukwu, said the historic agreement builds on an earlier courtesy visit by the UNTH Foundation team.
Nwachukwu explained that the initiative would focus on providing holistic mental health support within communities, particularly among underserved populations.
According to him, the programme is designed as a proactive, problem-solving initiative that promotes early preventive action and help-seeking behaviour, thereby reducing mental health emergencies and associated medical costs.
“As we step into 2026, I am filled with excitement and optimism, knowing that this powerful collaboration will profoundly enhance holistic wellbeing for everyone,” he said.
“This partnership will break down barriers, offer holistic healing, and ensure that no one in Enugu or beyond has to face mental health challenges alone.”
He noted that the initiative would ensure communities in Enugu have access to integrated care closer to home through joint outreach programmes that promote early intervention, destigmatisation campaigns, and free or subsidised mental health screenings alongside physical health services.
Nwachukwu added that the programme would particularly benefit vulnerable groups, including mothers, adolescents, low-income families, and rural populations who often face barriers to specialised care.
“Healthcare providers at UNTH and its affiliated facilities will also receive training and resources to routinely identify and address mental health concerns. This will lead to more accurate diagnoses, improved treatment adherence, and reduced readmissions caused by unaddressed psychological factors,” he said.
He further noted that the partnership could serve as a model for healthcare integration across the South-East and beyond.
“By demonstrating measurable improvements in patient resilience, family wellbeing, and community health indicators, this collaboration could inspire similar partnerships nationwide and contribute to Nigeria’s broader goals of universal health coverage and sustainable development,” he added.
Corroborating, the Chief Executive Officer of the UNTH Foundation, Prof. Theresa Nwagha, said the partnership reflects a deep recognition that mental health is inseparable from physical health.
“I am absolutely thrilled about this transformative partnership and the immense promise it holds for the people of Enugu and beyond,” she said.
“By uniting our expertise and resources, we are opening doors to truly integrated care that will profoundly impact lives, strengthen families, and build a more resilient and compassionate community for generations to come.”
Nwagha explained that the UNTH Foundation is expanding its mission to include emotional and psychological wellbeing, noting that partnering with CALMHAF creates a synergy that addresses health in its fullest sense.
It will be recalled that mental health remains critically underserved and under-prioritised in Nigeria, where stigma, limited resources, and low awareness often prevent individuals from seeking or receiving timely care.
