The Mental Health Users Network of Zambia (MHUNZA) has called on government to formulate and enact new legislation that will promote and protect people with mental illness in the country.
MHUNZA president Sylvester Katontoka said the current legislations pertaining to the welfare of people with mental illness is demeaning and discriminates against people living with mental illness.
Mr. Katontoka told ZANIS in an interview that the country is currently using the Mental Health Act of 1951 which is demeaning as it labels persons with mental as idiots and criminals.
He said the Act does not take into account the social and health aspects of people with the illness and therefore needs to be revised.
He said government needs to put in place legislation that will bring social order and stop the discrimination of people with mental illness.
Mr. Katontoka said the country needs to take into account the recent development in human rights issues as regards to people living with the disease.
He said people with mental illness have been adversely affected by the old Act as mental patients find it hard to be accepted in the community.
Mr Katontoka further pointed out that there are little or no facilities for people with the disease adding that this has denied them opportunities in life. He has since called on all Zambians to support people living with mental illness because although it is very difficult to be cured, it can be managed and controlled.
Meanwhile, principal Mental Health Officer in the Ministry of Health, Pascal Kwapa said his ministry is concerned with the legislation for people with mental illness.
Mr. Kwapa said government has since taken a step forward by developing the Mental Health Policy to ensure that people with mental illness are provided with quality and equitable facilities.
ZANIS
I totally agree with this issue. Mentally challenged people are left to roam the streets because no one carse. Anyone out there who has a relation with a mental health knows how stressful this problem is because its left to helpless families to suffer. Well not only does the family suffer but even people in the neighbourhood suffer, so someone somewhere needs to look into keeping these vulnerable human beings in a safe place and let them get help, don’t let them go on the streest and become laughing stocks. Its not even something to laugh at and yet people find humour in looking at these vulnerable individuals. Sometimes a woman with mental health suddenly is found pregnant on the streets? Honestly is it not morally wrong to let these people endure abuse such as this?
Someone nees to step up and help these helpless people. Its heart breaking to see other people making fun of these people or the families associated with this person, let alone shower insults to the families already going thru pain to see a person they love turn to have this unfortunate disability. We need to have empathy and help as governemnt we need to have secure hospitals where they can be helped, if it means rehabilitation let thet be a [rocess while they are hospitalised. Lets be more human and understanding. I hope whoever is responsible can look into this issue.
Hi Zanis,
Great news for Zambia.
A massive step toward regulation of Mental Health Policies. Improving quality and equitable facilities for everyone that suffers with mental health.
Let’s just hope access to these mental health services are also improved. And that there are enough resources to administer this improvement.
Thank you
Regards
GaryGraye.com
Sincerity may be equated to nobility. The correct term should have been ,can the parliament /expedite and pass as a law the revised mental health act. Mr Sylvester katontoka has been in all the meetings of the formulation of revised mental health act.
The revised mental health act /policy is there but not yet approved. It has among other things , the board of tribunal whose members include the chief justice , prisons official/chief ,mental users ,psychiatric professionals etc…let us lobby for the expeditious approval into legislature.
3.Gary Graye
Great website, keep it up!!
True. Mental health must go beyond holding people at Chainama
This is a good thing. The scale of national morality can only balance if the afflicted are comforted. Mental patients are such afflicted ones, who are unfortunately often pushed aside. With a little more commitment, we can create room for these people and give them a hope of rehabilitation.
GRZ should also be encouraged to build modern facilities to accommodate all the service users (Client) with Psychiatric problems instead of just locking them up at Chainama and other institutions. These people with such disabilities apart from needing medical care at such facilities, do have rights like any other Zambians whose confidentiality and wellbeing need to be respected and protected. There very good mental acts for instance, in the UK from which Zambia could borrow/learn.
yaba