Collaborative Action Urged to Address Mental Health Vulnerabilities at Pakistan’s Largest Psychiatric Facility in Hyderabad, Sindh – SHRC Chairperson
Irfan Ali
Karachi
Collaborative Action Urged to Address Mental Health Vulnerabilities at Pakistan’s Largest Psychiatric Facility in Hyderabad, Sindh – SHRC Chairperson
Recognizing mental health as a collective responsibility, the Chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho, emphasized the importance of institutional coordination to mitigate vulnerabilities faced by individuals with mental illnesses during an official visit to Sir Cowasji Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry, commonly known as Giddu Mental Hospital in Hyderabad.
Commending the efforts of the hospital administration, Mr. Detho stressed the urgency for multi-sectoral integration. He directed the hospital leadership to initiate coordinated mechanisms involving relevant departments to ensure service continuity, patient rehabilitation, and dignity-based care. He proposed establishing a committee for management and integration to address persistent gaps.
Mr. Detho also referenced the Sindh Senior Citizen Act 2014 (Amended 2023), which mandates the establishment of elderly care homes in each district. He urged expedited completion of the under-construction facility in Hyderabad to address long-term accommodation needs for recovered but displaced elderly patients. The Chairperson assured SHRC’s continued technical support to foster a rights-based, inclusive, and resilient mental health ecosystem across Sindh.
Mr. Chairperson also pleased to see the active engagement and speedy recovery of the patients followed by introduction of music as therapy for mentally ill people that help individuals with mental health conditions improve their emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. He stressed to make sure the long-term inclusion of music therapy with the support of Culture and Tousrim Department, Government of Sindh and other social platforms of promoting music and artists.
The visit was conducted in partnership with the District Administration and representatives from key public departments, including Social Welfare, Women Development, the Department for Persons with Disabilities, NADRA, and District Police. The Medical Superintendent, Dr. Nisar Ahmed Soho, presented a comprehensive overview of the hospital's challenges—chiefly the acute shortage of trained psychiatric staff, overstretched resources, and the presence of long-recovered female and elderly patients abandoned due to the absence of guardianship. Dr. Soho highlighted critical needs, such as enhanced security support with shift-based police deployment and strategic interventions to manage Pakistan’s largest mental health facility, which spans over 50 acres and serves as a lifeline for Sindh’s mentally ill population.
