CROSS ROADS: They aren’t mad, but victims of mental disorder

A common African proverb says that every market place has its own madman. It has variation at different settings and languages. One can transpose the market place with a village, town, etc.

For many Tanzanians, the first encounter with mental health issues is more often than not the local madman or madwoman. I am sorry, to use such a brutal language, unfortunately for many people, that is the way they refer to the mentally challenged, which only goes a long way to make their situation worse.

We are predominately a Swahili language nation, where those who suffer from mental disorders, are described as zezeta (retarded) or mwendawazimu (mad). To make it worse, there are common beliefs that those suffering could be bewitched and medical help offers them no chance at all.

It is an open secret that in our dear motherland citizens with mental disabilities many times faces violation of their rights from fellow citizens and the state at times. The so called zezeta, are often kept indoors and hidden, forcing them to lead deplorable lives. The so called “mad” are often tied up at homes, instead of being taken to mental asylum.

The situation is worse for women who are mentally challenged and roam the streets. Often they are sexually and physically abused.

As a nation, we need to know and ensure that the rights of people with mental disabilities are protected. They have the right to treatment and human dignity. Unfortunately, in some mental cases, the victim often does not know if he needs help. This means the decision for going for help has to be made by other family members.

Mirembe Hospital in Dodoma is the most renowned facility in Tanzania that specialises in treatment of the mentally challenged people. Reports have it; that the hospital gets 15 to 20 mental breakdown patients a week. Sometimes the cause is natural. Sometimes patients who don’t know about their conditions even commit crimes. Like we say for physically challenged people, that all of us are prospective candidates, so is the case for mental disability.

Who among us has never been gravely depressed? If prolonged, depression can turn into a mental illness. In fact, it is said some people, who think they are normal, and we see them normal, they could be mental patients. No one should castigate, demean or discriminate the mentally handicapped.

A research done by Ambikile, Joel. S, and Iseselo, Masunga, K. titled Mental Health Care and Delivery System at Temeke Gospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania indicates that some socioeconomic challenges can cause mental health problems. It recommends that hospitals at district level should be equipped to handle mental cases.

As a nation we cannot run away from our kin and kith suffering mental health challenges. In the villages and towns, families are left to take care of their own mentally sick. Citizens who are not able to take their mental health patients to the few medical facilities available, they have to contend with living with their sick relatives, while they get zero medical attention.

The World Health Organisation has been advocating for building of community-based mental health care systems and services. I think this is a very good model, which would help to fight the myths and culture about mental cases, often associated with witchcraft. Such a system would include dignified home care and would bring greater awareness to educate the community not hide patients.

Last Tuesday, was a World Mental Health Day 2017. Dr Wallace Karata of Tanga Regional Mental Health Recovery Centre at the Bombo Regional Referral Hospital was quoted by the media calling for “improvement in working conditions at work places in Tanzania,” to save the nation from “increased depression and anxiety trends”.