In a significant development for mental healthcare in Nigeria, the Zion Ministry's Free Seraphic Psychiatric Hospital has officially commenced full operations in Aguleri, Anambra State, with the immediate rescue and admission of two mentally ill persons from the streets.
First Patients Rescued and Admitted
Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi, the Spiritual Director of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach and Founder of Seraphic Homes Foundation, confirmed to journalists in Lagos that the hospital has already begun fulfilling its mission. Two mentally challenged individuals, a man and a woman, were rescued from different locations in Anambra State and have been admitted as the facility's first patients.
The rescue team established by the Seraphic Foundation found the male patient in Nteje community, while the female patient was rescued from the streets of Onitsha Main Market, where she had been roaming without care.
Both patients underwent immediate assessment by psychiatric doctors and healthcare professionals who initiated treatment protocols. They are now receiving comprehensive care, including medication, accommodation, and welfare support, completely free of charge.
State-of-the-Art Facility Commissioned
The psychiatric hospital, which represents a massive investment of over N1.6 billion, was officially commissioned on September 19 by Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo. Located in Aguleri, the facility is designed to provide completely free psychiatric care to individuals battling mental health challenges.
The comprehensive services offered include:
- Diagnosis and assessment
- Medical treatment and medication
- Rehabilitation programs
- Accommodation facilities
- Welfare support
All services are provided at no cost to patients or their families, removing financial barriers to mental healthcare.
Foundation's Broader Mission
Evangelist Ebuka Obi emphasized that his foundation is determined to create a society where mentally ill persons are no longer abandoned on the streets. The vision involves embracing, treating, rehabilitating, and empowering individuals to live meaningful lives after being reintegrated into society.
This psychiatric hospital represents the latest in a series of humanitarian projects by the Seraphic Homes Foundation. In April 2025, the organization opened the first-ever Old People's Home and Orphanage in Mgbirichi, Imo State, which was commissioned by Governor Hope Uzodinma.
The state-of-the-art facility in Imo State provides a safe and nurturing environment for orphans and elderly individuals, offering shelter, food, clothing, education, and healthcare services to abandoned children and elderly persons without caregivers.
Evangelist Obi explained that his passion for helping others stems from a childhood calling and that the foundation's mission focuses on providing tangible help to those in need. The organization runs various programs supporting disadvantaged families, including:
- Scholarships for children up to university level
- Funding for life-sustaining medical treatments
- Payment of hospital bills for various health challenges
The evangelist emphasized the importance of collective efforts in creating a better world and encouraged individuals, businesses, and organizations to support the cause through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness.
Looking ahead, Evangelist Obi disclosed plans to replicate similar projects across all states in Nigeria, reaffirming his lifelong commitment to serving humanity. To serve humanity with all I have is my calling, and this is what I am going to do for the rest of my life, he declared.
The rescue team continues to identify and bring more mentally ill persons from the streets to the new facility in the coming days, marking a new chapter in mental healthcare provision in Southeastern Nigeria.
