Resident doctors proffer solutions to girl-child marriage, psychiatric disorder

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH) recently held an ordinary general meeting and scientific conference in Yaba, Lagos-themed: Child marriages, the psychiatric consequences, with sub-theme, Media and psychiatry, proper reporting practices for mental illnesses.

The event chaired by the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Service Commission Dr. Bayo Aderiye, had discussants that included a specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dr. Grace Ijarogbe; Mr. Chude Jideonwo, represented by Mr. Remi Ogunkoya and former President of the Association ARD and a consultant and Chief Executive Officer of the Pinnacle Medical Services, Maymunah Kadiri.

The President of ARD, Dr. Ken Uwajeh, in his opening speech spoke on the essence of proper psychiatric practices, as a panacea for a lot of societal ills.

He stressed the need for doctors and other privileged members of the society to be more emphatic towards the poor and the needy in our society.

In her submission, Dr. Ijarogbe, who was the guest lecturer, highlighted the psychiatric and societal problems associated with child bride and child labour. She said it is a pity that out of the 36 states in Nigerian, only 19 states has abided with the rules of Child Right Acts (CRA) but the northern refused to abide with it. “So you will always find their girls getting married before the age of 18 ages.”

She, however, added that everything that is done must always be for the interest of the children especially the females and advised parents not to sell their children for early marriage “because this we affect them mentally,” she said.