Cross River begins evacuation of mentally challenged persons

The Cross River State government has initiated an exercise to evacuate mentally challenged individuals from the streets of Calabar, the state capital.

This followed the recent commissioning of a holding centre by Governor Bassey Otu, as part of his administration’s one-year celebration.
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The centre serves as an initial response facility designed to provide immediate care and rehabilitation for mentally challenged individuals found in the city.

The exercise is being managed by the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA) and aims to proactively address the pressing issue of mental health in the metropolis.

The centre already has over 30 registered inmates.

Executive secretary of CUDA, Effiong Ayi, said the primary goal of the exercise is to eliminate the large presence of mentally challenged individuals in the metropolis and facilitate their rehabilitation, enabling them to lead productive lives within the society.
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