RESEARCH AND TRAINIG CENTRE, For Neuro-Psychiatric
RESEARCH AND TRAINIG CENTRE, For Neuro-Psychiatric
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SOWUNMI, OLAREWAJU OLUGBENGA
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Abstract
Philosophy
In view of the importance of mental health care
to the human life and the socio-economic stability
of a nation, the development and adaptation of mental
health technology, in which major attention will be
given to the development and evaluation of appropriate
models for mental health care, should be of primary
priority in Nigeria as a developing nation.
The words mental health have become house-hold
words. They have come to stand for a great variety
of human aspirations. For the efforts to restore to
full and healthy functioning of those who are mentally
ill:-
- for the active pursuit of humanhood of man
and a peaceful world;
- for both the co-operation of all the human
sciences in effect to improve functioning of
human beings, and
- for that state of human being which he can be
said to be functioning with his full capacities,
mentally and physically.
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It is saddening to note however, that people are
not really interested in this aspect of medicine and
it has not been given much attention in Nigeria, Even
medical doctors are not given incentives to go into
the field of psychiatry, most of them prefer going
into other parts of medicine especially the physical
medicine rather than the psychiatric medicine. These
and other reasons have led to the few number of
psychiatrists we have in Nigeria today compared to
the number of physical medicine practitioners.
Also considering the mental health centres we
have in Nigeria one would findout that they are
inadequate.
All these have made it difficult to improve on the
mode of treatment of the mentally ill and to develop
ways of preventing or reducing the psychosocial problems
which is the main course of mental retardation, which
increases everyday.
If we take a look into the present situation in
Nigeria today and in most African countries, we shall
findout that due to deteriorating economy of Nations,
more people are getting mentally retarded everyday.
This situation calls for an immediate attention
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in which:
- test and promotion of models of care should be
carried out suitable for conditions in Nigeria;
- efficient research geared towards better
estimates of prevalence and distribution of
mental and neurological disorders;
research aimed at giving the populace an
insight into the psychosocial problems, giving
information about their types, courses and out
comes. This would provide a base line data for
planning and for evaluation of the success of
interventions;
- research on effective treatment methods to
produce important information about the optimal
dosage of essential psychotropic drugs, their
side effects and therapeutic efficacy in
conditions prevailing in Nigeria;
and above all, a research centre which will
provide new ideas prevalent to development,
co-ordination on mental health research efforts,
in the country and outside, and collaboration
with other countries. This centre would serve
as a forum to carry out the above mentioned
ideas and training of more psychiatrists and
scientist to promote mental health research.
For the outstanding position Nigeria has among
developing countries, in this respect, the World
Health Organisation has proposed the establishment of
a mental health research centre at the Neuro-psychiatric
hospital, Aro, which at present in the largest, most
equiped and the pioneer psychiatric hospital in Nigeria.
Also due to the efforts of the hospital
management in mental health research, it has been
discribed as a centre of resource by the World Health
Organisation.
The commencement of this project is not yet in
sight as moves have just been made by the Federal
Government of Nigeria to sign an agreement with the
World Health Organisation on the proposal.
My architectural thesis is aimed at:
- providing a feasible research centre for
the mental health care to meet the research
and laboratory needs of mental health
personnels and scientists;
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- making a comprehensive research in
architectural design and planning of
research laboratories, highlight and
analyse those aspects which can be best
handled to effect some economic savings.
Objectives
1. Planning and designing facilities within a
flexible, adaptable and conducive architectural
setting and environment which will serve to
inspire and enhance progress in the mental health
science, will promote and not retard the effective
application of this progress to the needs of all
concerned.
2. How to put the facilities together so that, as a
whole and in itself, the centre would be a tool
that serves the therapeutic process.
3. To ensure effective operation, provide flexibility
of space, be direct and easily understood in
arrangement and to provide an environment that is
friendly, intimate and pleasant which would aid
the therapeutic process.
4. The facility will be a live, vital place in which
the discovery of ideas become existing.
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Scope and Limitations
In order for the centre to perform its functions
actively, it will comprise of the Administrative
Section, Research Laboratories, Teaching Laboratories,
Animal Quarters, Observation Wards and Sleep Research
Rooms, Training Section which comprises of Audio-visual
Classroom, Demonstration Room, Seminar Rooms, Ancilary
facilities like Central Storage Maintenance Section
and Catering, Co-ordination Centre - Conference Hall,
Lounge, Electronic Data Processing Unit, Research
Library, Museum and offices.
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Description
A thesis presented to the Department of
Architecture, Faculty of Environmental
Design, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Nigeria, and submitted to the postgraduate
School, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria,
Nigeria, in partial fulfillment o f the
requirements for the Degree of master of
Science inArchitecture (M.Sc. Architecture
Keywords
RESEARCH, TRAINIG CENTRE, For Neuro, Psychiatric