About Us

The HHC Foundation, a Non-for Profit organisation started out originally as an
educational initiative led by Dr. Theddeus Iheanacho, a professor of psychiatry at Yale
University who collaborated with various stakeholders to kickstart the Health Action for
Psychiatric Problems In Nigeria including Epilepsy and Substances (HAPPINESS) Project,
a pioneering program based in Imo State, Nigeria.
The HAPPINESS project 1) trains and retrains clinicians (Community Health Extension
Workers, General and Psychiatric Nurses and General Medical Doctors) from primary
health care centers to create awareness on mental health, screen for
mental, neurological and substance use disorders, provide evidence-based treatments
and make appropriate specialist referrals using the World Health Organization’s mental
health gap action programme (mhGAP) tools; 2) uses mobile technology and
telemedicine to provide voice, text and video-based continuing education for trainees,
as well as provide physician support, supervision and referral platform; 3) utilizes a
drug revolving fund (DRF) to provide basic psychotropic and anti-epileptic medications
in an affordable and sustained way.
The HHC foundation has evolved rapidly since then and is currently working with
several partners to scale up and sustain the HAPPINESS Project and other community-
based wellness projects across Imo and other states in Nigeria.
Partners: Imo State University, Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Imo State
Primary Health Care Development Agency, Yale University School of Medicine, CBM
International and ROW Foundation.