Mental health advocates are calling on Ghanaians to take mental wellness seriously, especially among vulnerable groups like women, as the Lions Clubs of Ghana marked International Women’s Month with a significant donation and clean-up exercise at Pantang Hospital’s Female Chronic Ward.

The initiative, organized by women from several Lions Clubs under District 418 – Ghana, brought together members from Accra Ubuntu, Tema Gentlewomen, Accra Zenith, Accra Ultimate, Accra Ultimate Leo, Accra Ubuntu Leo, Accra Diaspora, and Accra Ubuntu Diaspora. The clubs donated essential items such as bedsheets, toiletries, foodstuffs, detergents, and medications to support the ward, which is home to 22 female patients suffering from chronic mental illnesses.

Principal Nursing Officer of the ward, Barbara Ofei, described the emotional and financial burden faced by the hospital.
“These women have been abandoned. Most of them cannot remember who they are or where they come from,” she said. “We rename them based on the day and location they were found — names like Adwoa from Madina, or Akosua from Shai Osudoku.”

She revealed that the hospital spends an average of GHS 6,000 per patient each month, often without any external support.
“With more expected to be brought in from the streets, this support from the Lions couldn’t have come at a better time.”

President of the organizing committee, Diane Norvi, emphasized that the initiative was part of the Lions’ global mission to serve.
“We believe kindness matters. This is not a one-time thing — Lions serve communities every week and every month,” she said. “We also hope this creates more awareness around the importance of women’s mental health.”

The clean-up exercise also reinforced the Lions’ commitment to environmental care, one of their eight global service areas, which include childhood cancer, hunger, diabetes, environment, youth empowerment, and mental health.