Mohlomi Mental Hospital
| Mohlomi Mental Hospital | |
|---|---|
| Geography | |
| Location | Maseru, Lesotho |
| Coordinates | 29°20′37″S 27°32′02″E / 29.3436109274556°S 27.533757952656°E |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Public hospital |
| Type | Psychiatric hospital |
| Services | |
| Beds | 115[1] |
| History | |
| Construction started | 1960 |
| Opened | 1965 |
| Links | |
| Website | {{URL|example.com|optional display text}} |
| Lists | Hospitals in Lesotho |
Mohlomi Mental Hospital is a public psychiatric hospital in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. It opened in 1965.[2] Mohlomi is the Lesotho's national referral hospital and is the only referring hospital for mental health in the country.[2][3]
History
The hospital is named for Chief Mohlomi, the 18th century Basotho healer.[4]
The hospital's first patients were prisoners from the Mohale's Hoek Prison in 1965.[5] The hospital then officially opened in August 1966 and admitted patients for mental health needs.[5]
Operations
In 2010, the hospital opened a separated, guarded, 35-bed ward for patients charged with crimes.[6] In 2011, the hospital was renovated and number of beds increased from 60 to 115.[3] A 2024 article described its assets as including, "female and male wards, an outpatient department, a forensic department, a geriatric ward and a child and adolescent ward."[1]
The hospital employed four doctors and received weekly visits from a psychiatrist with Partners in Health according to a report from 2023.[5] The hospital employs social workers to assist patients with transitioning out of care, taking medication, and providing counseling.[7]
In 2025, the hospital's public relations officer commented to the press that the hospital building was in urgent need of repair or replacement.[8] She noted that ceilings and walls in the building were unstable, and that the hospital was overburdened with patients.[8] She explained further, saying
"Overcrowding is particularly severe in the forensic department, which holds 80 patients in a facility designed for just 34 beds, forcing many to sleep on mattresses."[8]
The hospital is periodically inspected by the Ombudsman Advocate. In recent years, the Ombudsman Advocate Tlotliso Polaki, has raised concerns about the length and constitutionality of detainment at the hospital and proper accommodations for female patients, among other concerns.[9][10]
Budget
In 2011, Lesotho's mental health expenditure was 1.8% of the country's health spending.[3] The same report shows that Mohlomi Mental Hospital uses 82.11% of this allocation.[3] In 2024, the acting director of the hospital noted that the hospital received 1.8 percent of the annual health budget, amounting to L8,000,000.[2]
References
- ^ a b Matete, Relebohile; Rathobei, Libuseng (2024). "Nurses' practice of metabolic monitoring for patients on antipsychotics in Lesotho". South African Journal of Psychiatry. 30.
- ^ a b c Motaung, Ntsoaki (July 22, 2024). "Mohlomi Hospital's design 'not fit for purpose'". Newsday.
- ^ a b c d Damane, Bernadett 'Malehlohonolo (February 2018). Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Mental Illness in the Mafeteng District, Lesotho (Masters in Social Sciences in Nursing thesis). School of Nursing, University of the Free State.
- ^ Sefotho, Maximus; Lindstrom, Lauren (April 4, 2024). "Chief Mohlomi's Indigenous Epistemology of a Healing Career: A Psychobiographical Analysis". E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (EHASS). 5 (4): 51. ISSN 2821-8949.
- ^ a b c Mabekebeke, Lineo (May 17, 2023). "MPs want decrepit Mohlomi facility overhauled". Public Eye News.
- ^ Kabi, Pascalinah (April 6, 2018). "Mental hospital grapples with overcrowding". Lesotho Times.
- ^ Chitereka, Christopher (2010). "People with Disabilities and the Role of Social Workers in Lesotho". Social Work & Society. 8 (1): 82.
- ^ a b c Sebusi, Mathatisi (April 30, 2025). "Lesotho struggling with mental health crisis". Lesotho Times.
- ^ Ntšonyane, Thoboloko (January 12, 2026). "Ombudsman knocks on prison doors". Newsday.
- ^ "Parliament urged to free mentally ill inmates held at Mohlomi". Newsday. June 30, 2025.
Further reading
Health Organization's Mental health Atlas country profile 2014