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Mentally ill patients and individuals struggling with drug addiction in South Nyanza region now have access to a dedicated mental health and rehabilitation facility. The Oasis Specialist Mental and Rehabilitation Center was officially launched at the existing hospital premises in Kisii town to meet the growing demand for mental health services in the area.
Hospital director Dr. Kepha Othiambo Makanyengo, one of the founding members of Oasis Specialist Hospital, described the opening of the center as a landmark achievement after 15 years of hospital operations. He highlighted how mental health has historically been overlooked, even by global organizations, until the World Health Organization began prioritizing it.
Dr. Makanyengo also expressed concern over how many mentally ill patients remain hidden from society, which worsens their conditions. He encouraged the community to seek help at the facility and stressed that mental wellness is an essential part of overall health.
Psychiatrist Fridah Gesiora emphasized the importance of creating awareness about mental health, noting that approximately one in four people experiences mental health issues. She pointed out that Kenya ranks fourth globally in depression cases, urging medical professionals to treat mental illness like any other medical condition and dispel myths linking it to witchcraft.
Gesiora described common symptoms such as mood swings, isolation, sleeplessness, and suicidal tendencies, explaining that the center has a secure confinement area for aggressive or suicidal patients until they respond to treatment.
Psychologist Harriet Wambui noted that both addiction and mental illness deeply impact not only individuals but also their families and communities. She explained that the facility provides a range of services including occupational therapy, counselling, speech therapy, and psychiatry all on-site without referrals.
Wambui reassured the public that insurance policies cover mental illness treatments, some even covering addiction rehabilitation. She encouraged families to bring loved ones for treatment rather than leaving them to suffer on the streets, emphasizing that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
The center can accommodate up to 35 inpatients simultaneously and is staffed by a team comprising three psychologists, two clinical officer psychiatrists, and one consultant psychiatrist. Causes of mental illness in the region include genetics, stress, work-related issues, and personality traits, with the most affected age group being 15 to 29 years old — a group for whom suicide remains the leading cause of death.
Hospital administrator Patrick Bosire highlighted that, alongside the mental health wing, Oasis Specialist Hospital offers multidisciplinary medical services including gynecology, surgeries, laboratory services, and oncology, making it a comprehensive healthcare provider in Kisii and the wider South Nyanza region.
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