NEURO-PSYCHIATRY/MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Department of Neuropsychiatry
NAME OF CURRENT HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
Dr. Frances N. Adiukwu
QUALIFICATION/SPECIALTY
MBBS, FWACP.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health/General Psychiatry

This Clinical Department started in 1979 with most other Clinical Departments for the primary purpose of training competent, knowledgeable and resilient young doctors. Others included clinical services, research, and training of doctors and paramedical staff.

It began with just one fully qualified distinguished psychiatrist, the Dr. Eugene Uzogara (now a Professor) currently practicing in the United States of America. He was then the Head of Department from 1979 to 1990. During this period, he worked assiduously to elevate this Clinical Department to an enviable height, by bringing Prof. H. U. Ihezue, the Head of Department of Psychiatry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) as a Visiting Professor, and Dr. Martins Yellowe, (now deceased) who was then the Medical Director of Rumuigbo Neuropsychiatry Hospital in Port Harcourt and a Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

NHIS operation began in UPTH in 2004. Initial services were provided at the staff clinic headed by Dr. Vincent Roland, during Dr. Paul Dienye’s tenure as Head of Family Medicine Department. The staff clinic had metamorphosed into the current NHIS clinic and in 2009, Dr. Mrs. Obianma Onya who was posted to NHIS clinic was appointed Head of Unit by the Head of Department at that time Dr. Alex Akani.

In 2014 when Dr. Onya became Head of Family Medicine Department, Dr. Kaine Diete-Spiff was appointed by her to be Head of NHIS Unit. Hitherto, NHIS was part of the Family Medicine Revolving Fund and as such, the department was responsible for the day-to-day running of the Unit. In 2016, with the creation of the NHIS Revolving Fund, Dr. Kaine Diete-Spiff became the first Project Manager of NHIS- a position she held until December 2017. In January, Dr. Adjugah Joshua was appointed Head and Project Manager of NHIS.

After Prof. Uzogara left the University of Port Harcourt in 1990, Dr. A. A. Essien another psychiatrist and a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College, took over the Headship of the Department in 1992, from Dr. A. E. Ihekwaba (now a Professor) who had co-ordinated in the absence of a psychiatrist. He held the position until 2001 when he handed over to Prof. P. C. Stanley as the Head of Department. Prof. P. C. Stanley, a fellow of the West African College of Physicians and the National Postgraduate Medical College (Psychiatry) was head of Department from 2001 to 2011. Prof. P. C. Stanley was succeeded by Dr. A. A. Essien from 2011 to 2013 when the latter retired. Dr. D.C. Chukwujekwu took over from Dr. A. A. Essien from 2013 to 2018. Consequently, the present Head of Department Dr. C.U. Okeafor, a fellow of West African College of Physicians as well as a Senior Lecturer in the Department took over from Dr. D.C. Chukwujekwu in 2018.

RESIDENCY TRAINING

The training of resident doctors commenced in the Department mid-2006 with one senior house officer under the hospital employment and 2 supernumerary doctors. The consultant clinics run five days of the week (i.e. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). The departmental clinical meeting is scheduled for Wednesdays tailored towards teaching and demonstration of clinical case scenarios for the benefit of residents.

Dr. U. S.Etawo then as the former Chief Medical Director, during Prof P.C. Stanley’s tenure as head of the department contributed immensely to the physical establishment and independence of this department in the hospital as the department was until previously sequestered under the Department of Internal Medicine.

At present, the Department has 11 resident doctors (5 senior Registrars and 6 Registrars) under the Hospital employment. The Department has produced Seven (7) fellows of either or both Postgraduate Colleges (West African College of Physicians and National Postgraduate Medical College) since the commencement of residency training programme.

LIST OF CONSULTANTS AND SUB-SPECIALTY

CONSULTANT/TEAM	SUBSPECIALTY
PROF. P. C. STANLEY-TEAM A	Substance Abuse, Geriatric Psychiatry
DR D. C. CHUKWUJEKWU-TEAM C	Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
DR. C. U. OKEAFOR-TEAM B	Liaison Neuropsychiatry
DR. A. K. NKPORBU-TEAM E	Substance Abuse and Forensic
DR G. O. DARIAH/ DR B. J. IDERIAH-TEAM D	Liaison Psychiatry

DR C. U. OKEAFOR
HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF NEUROPSYCHIATRY

For more details on the scope of work see

UPTH Service Charter.
For Protocol of service; see UPTH Service Charter.

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