Traditional healers fill Nigeria mental healthcare gap

This report is as given by Al Jazeera. Read below.

Millions suffering from mental illness go without professional help in a nation of 174 million.

An estimated 20 million Nigerians suffer from mental illness. But many go without professional help.

There are only 130 psychiatrists in Nigeria, which has a population of 174 million. The World Health Organisation estimates that only about three percent of the health budget goes to mental health.

Psychiatric treatments are expensive, so many patients have no choice but to turn to traditional healers.