Unfortunately, the number of persons with mental disorders is surprisingly increasing as days go by, but authorities and institutions responsible for the monitoring of these people seem reluctant in keeping them at the right place.

Relatives of such people often reject them when native doctors and prayer camps fail to redeem them from such an unfortunate incident. There is a saying that insults if not heard, are not painful, thus, taking mad people far from their relatives and housing them does not constantly rekindle their agonies, but seeing their beloved ones in these states always does not only pain them, but soils the reputations of such families.

There are institutions that are being paid to take care of these people but much attention and support seem not to be given to these institutions, moreover the treatment given to these mad people were not the best as it was clearly revealed in Anas’ “Mad House” undercover.

In 2009, I witnessed the doom of a lady who was returning from a night club, and was tipsy could not go home but slept in a porch in a nearby school was raped by a mad man. Having realized what happened to her, and other people witnessing the incident, she committed suicide.

Early last year, we also saw mad man from nowhere on the streets of New Dormaa, a suburb of Sunyani with cutlass threatening the lives of people and causing fear and panic, it was the intervention of some brave men who at the peril of their lives, defied all the odds, attacked the mad man, took the cutlass from him and handed him to the police.

Again, about five weeks ago, many Ghanaians heard on radio about this mad man in Koforidua who was half dead; rotting but still walking on the streets of Koforidua which most of the people attested to that fact and added that, the stink of the mad man, when he passes, quells their appetite for food worse things might have happened elsewhere.

Aside the above problems, majority of people who pass by mad people never feel comfortable and as a result, are always on the alert should they make an attempt to threaten their lives, we all can also attest to the fact that most mad people pick things that have been swept from the streets from the refuse dumps and bring them back on the streets which make it look as if those who are been paid to keep the environment clean are not up to task.

Although they have the right to live, but in such conditions, they should be restricted in order not to infringe on others freedom and rights, since when the harm is done, they cannot be examined to know who did what.

However, in a place like Venezuela, measures have been put in place for people with mental disorder, they are housed; none of them is seen outside, and are well taken care of.

As we try to develop all facets of our country, recognition should also be given to such people because psychiatric nurses are been trained every year and they are been trained to take care of people in such conditions meanwhile no effort has been made to expand the four psychiatric hospitals countrywide or put up structures to house mad people.The earlier we solve this issue as a nation, the better it would be for us.

Edward Balami

www.edwardbalami.blogspot.com

Accra.