By ibrahima yakubu
In commemoration of World Mental Health Day 2025, a Kaduna-based humanitarian organization, Hope for the Mentally Ill People in Nigeria, has carried out a special clean-up and care exercise for mentally challenged persons living on the streets of Kaduna.
The founder of the organization, Mallam Salihu Yuguda Zayyid, said the activity was part of ongoing efforts to restore dignity and hygiene among people suffering from mental health disorders.
According to him, for over 15 years, the organization has been organizing monthly outreach programmes focused on cleaning, bathing, clothing, and feeding mentally challenged individuals across different parts of Kaduna State.
“It is heartbreaking to see them living in such conditions,” he said. “Our goal is to make them feel valued and cared for, and to help them gradually reintegrate into society.”
“we give them new clothes, baths them and distribute foodstuffs ”
Zayyid explained that each month, the NGO gathers between 10 and 15 people with mental health conditions from various communities for medical attention and hygiene care.
He appealed to government agencies, corporate bodies, and philanthropists to support the organization’s activities, noting that it currently operates with very limited resources.
“We are a non-governmental organization that depends solely on donations,” he added. “We welcome any form of partnership or assistance that will help us continue this humanitarian work.”
Zayyid also pointed out that the group currently focuses on male patients, calling on women’s organizations to collaborate in extending similar services to female beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, members of the Network of Peace Journalists (NPJ) who visited the venue commended the initiative, describing it as a noble contribution to the well-being of vulnerable citizens.
The NPJ Team Leader, Ibrahima Yakubu, lauded the NGO’s dedication and urged more Nigerians to support mental health programs, especially in line with this year’s global theme “Mental Health in Humanitarian Emergencies.”
He said World Mental Health Day, marked every October 10, serves as a reminder to raise awareness, share knowledge, and mobilize action in support of mental health care around the world.
