By Gideon D. Ebbah, GNA
Nkwankwanua (Ash), Feb. 20, GNA – The Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC) has called on the Mental Health Authority operationalize its statutory mental health guidelines, to end the abuse experienced by people living with mental disorders.
The Centre has also called on government to expedite the processes in coming out with a Legislative Instrument (LI) that would regulate mental health care in the country.
Mr George Owoo, Programmes Manager of HRAC, who made the call, said it is time to put in place proactive statutory interventions that protected and respected the rights, as well as the dignity of persons living with mental disabilities.
He was addressing a community sensitization event held to create awareness on mental disorders and the need for family and community members to treat their mentally-challenged family members with respect and dignity.
It was also held to influence the need for family and community members to seek treatment for sufferers at accredited mental health facilities, rather than resorting to the traditional and faith-based healing camps, where they were prone to all kinds of human rights abuses.
The event held at Nkwankwanua, in the Sekyere East District, was organized by HRAC in collaboration with Mind Freedom, a Non Governmental Organisation, and the District Directorate of Health Services.
Mr Owoo said the increasing cases of stigmatization, discrimination, maltreatment, disrespect and amongst others, being meted out to people with mental issues, infringed on their fundamental human rights.
“It is sad that the country which prides itself with strong democratic credentials would still allow people with such disabilities to be treated with disdain and abuse of their rights as well as their freedoms”, he said.
The Programmes Manager said reported cases of severe beatings, handcuffing and other forms of abuse that persons with mental problems suffer at the hands of so-called spiritual healers at shrines and healing camps, should be a worry to all.
He said there is the need for government and the Mental Health Authority to regulate and strictly monitor the activities of these traditional healing and prayer camps to ensure that patients received quality care while, their rights were also protected at all times.
Mr Owoo said there is the need for the country to train more professional mental health care providers in order to bridge the gaps in mental health care delivery in the country.
This would also help reduce the patronage of the prayer camps and shrines for the treatment of people with such disabilities, he said.
Mr Nii Lartey Addico, Co-Director of Mind Freedom, said the sensitization programme is a strategy to empower the local people to help curb the abuse of people with mental disorders.
He called of the Ghana Health Service to strengthen mental health units across the country to help promote quality care.
Mr Justice Ofori Amoah, the District Director of Health Services, urged community members, especially the youth to stay away from substance abuse, which is a leading cause of mental disorders and disabilities.
He also called on the government and health stakeholders to support health facilities with the requisite logistical inputs such that adequate care would be provided to the local people.
GNA
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