In every society, it is unavoidable to have people who are mentally retarded. In fact, mental illness is the commonest ailment in the world, just as it is defined.
However, of disheartening to note is the fact that many people never take into consideration the plight of the mentally challenged. This is so because they are considered a threat and a nuisance to people and some even wish they are gotten rid of by society.
People with mental problems are left to their fate while the unlucky ones are left to roam the streets, scampering for their survival.
In Malawi, the case is no different. Over the years, there have been an increasing number of suspected mentally ill persons roaming in and around the country’s streets and cities.
These mentally ill people are seen hunting for unhealthy food in the country’s rubbish dumps, gutters and some very disgusting places. Sad to note is also the fact some people pelt stones at these patients while they pour all sorts of substances on them. Of even hard to fathom is also the painful truth that some weak-minded individuals rape and molest these mentally challenged persons.
As this is not bad enough, some mentally challenged people are ridiculed at and looked down upon with disdain and contempt. It thus appears that many of their inalienable rights are violated and taken for granted.
But why has this been the case in Malawi? Good question. I think there are more factors than one, but chief among the reason is that the government has for many years ignored the plight and welfare of the mentally challenged. Evidenced by lack of strong policies on the mental problem, the government shoulders much blame for overlooking the sufferings of the mentally challenged.
For example, it appears Malawi is still using the Mental Treatment Act of 1989 which I think is archaic and retrogressive. Many things have changed now and the law definitely requires some reviews and amendments so that it suits modern times.
But this is not all.
I think there should also be some complementary policies that should govern the conduct of mental health personnel and also the conduct and responsibility of the general public to the mentally ill. It is clear and loud that the mentally ill are looked at with ridicule and resentment by most people. So the government should come up with means of sensitizing the public on the importance of caring for the mentally challenged.
Another reason why there has been an upsurge of mentally retarded people in the country’s cities and towns is perhaps because the country has one major public mental hospital in Zomba which definitely does not cater for all mental patients in the country. The other major mental hospital is St John of God in Mzuzu, which we gather, is private and definitely not for everyone. What is even more worrisome to note is also the fact that the country has short medical personnel supply and this has aggravated the already worsened situation as this means that many mental patients are not well taken care of.
All these problems point to the fact that the welfare of the mentally challenged is not being well considered and this has led to the rise of mentally challenged to be roaming around the streets.
But, it should be borne in mind that the mentally retarded deserve some form of rights because they being vulnerable and incapacitated do not exempt them from enjoying the rights they deserve. They need more rights and a better environment to leave just like any other normal human being.
More and better mental hospitals and with better facilities, are therefore needed to make their life better. Furthermore, the government should formulate strict laws to safeguard their rights and additionally, it should also put in place policies to ensure that the mentally challenged are given the care and treatment they deserve.
It is also the duty of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education to sensitize the general public on the importance of respecting the rights of the mentally challenged. Good health is of vital importance to the development of any country and the present plight of the mentally challenged is not something the country should be proud of. It sucks.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Fighting HIV/AIDS amid Myths
Last week, Malawi joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Aids Day which falls on December 1 every year. And speaking at the launch of the commemorations at Dowa Secondary School ground, President Bingu wa Mutharika said, and it is true, that Malawi is winning the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“We are winning the fight because the number of infections is declining…I expect this pandemic to end,” Mutharika said with an aura of conviction.
From the president’s speech, one could notice the desire, hope and zeal simmering in a leader wanting to catapult the nation into the world’s most comfortable zone. Surely, every well meaning Malawian would like to see Malawi winning the battle against HIV/AIDS.
But, it appears despite the commitments from government to put this deadly pandemic to a grinding halt, some people are still putting spanners in the war against HIV/AIDS.
For example, it is very sad and unfortunate that some people up to now still believe that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted and cured through some superstitious ways. Ever since the first case of HIV infection was reported in Malawi in 1985, some Malawians have struggled to shake off some myths on HIV/AIDS.
For instance, some people still believe that they can be cured of AIDS if they sleep with their blood relatives and more shameful with their children. This has resulted in the spread of HIV/AIDS to innocent lives and it is actually derailing the fight against the pandemic.
Even more moving to learn is also that some people are deluded into thinking that they are going to be cleansed of the virus if they use concoctions made from bodies of the challenged people like albinos and the mentally retarded. They thus end up harming the bodies of these people in a desperate attempt to save their lives.
Another shocking myth is that of engaging in bestiality to get rid of the deadly virus. The Malawian media has on several occasions reported on bestiality acts by some people across the country. When quizzed to explain their motives, these people, without batting an eyelid, say they wanted to get cured of HIV/AIDS. What a pity. What is the connection between getting cleansed of the virus and sleeping with animals? One would really be tempted to ask.
It appears therefore that some Malawians don’t want to believe that up until today there is no cure for HIV/AIDS and the only drugs that are available for Aids are the anti-retro viral drugs which unfortunately cannot cure Aids but just prolong the lives of those people living with the virus.
Obviously, this is why we hear time and again some herbalists claiming that they have found some concoctions, which they say, can cure Aids. In Machinga, for example, there was one Mr. Chisupe who drew much hullabaloo and popularity in the 90s with his famous ‘Mchape’ drug. Memories are still fresh of how people drove from far-flung corners of Malawi to be given a dosage of the concoction.
Then came Mr. George Kumbuyo from Mulanje with his Chambe drug and just recently we have heard a certain woman in Mangochi also claiming that she has found a cure for Aids. And sad to note is also the fact that many people are trekking to this woman hoping to get cured of the disease despite authorities proving that the drug does not cure Aids, as people given the drug are still HIV positive. Very sad indeed!
But, who is to blame? Obviously, the
herbalists are to blame for wanting to make money by cheating people that they have found the Aids cure. But I also think it boils down to the question of acceptance of ones HIV status. Many Malawians, it seems, don’t want to accept their HIV status after testing positive. They thus end up believing some senseless myths that result in the spread of the disease thereby undermining the government’s effort of reducing HIV transmission.
Perhaps it is now time that Malawians realized that being HIV positive does not mean the end of ones life. Elsewhere, in South Africa, for example, which has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, many people after testing positive, accept their results and continue to live positively with their lives and end up living longer than expected. These HIV/AIDS myths will lead us nowhere!
“We are winning the fight because the number of infections is declining…I expect this pandemic to end,” Mutharika said with an aura of conviction.
From the president’s speech, one could notice the desire, hope and zeal simmering in a leader wanting to catapult the nation into the world’s most comfortable zone. Surely, every well meaning Malawian would like to see Malawi winning the battle against HIV/AIDS.
But, it appears despite the commitments from government to put this deadly pandemic to a grinding halt, some people are still putting spanners in the war against HIV/AIDS.
For example, it is very sad and unfortunate that some people up to now still believe that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted and cured through some superstitious ways. Ever since the first case of HIV infection was reported in Malawi in 1985, some Malawians have struggled to shake off some myths on HIV/AIDS.
For instance, some people still believe that they can be cured of AIDS if they sleep with their blood relatives and more shameful with their children. This has resulted in the spread of HIV/AIDS to innocent lives and it is actually derailing the fight against the pandemic.
Even more moving to learn is also that some people are deluded into thinking that they are going to be cleansed of the virus if they use concoctions made from bodies of the challenged people like albinos and the mentally retarded. They thus end up harming the bodies of these people in a desperate attempt to save their lives.
Another shocking myth is that of engaging in bestiality to get rid of the deadly virus. The Malawian media has on several occasions reported on bestiality acts by some people across the country. When quizzed to explain their motives, these people, without batting an eyelid, say they wanted to get cured of HIV/AIDS. What a pity. What is the connection between getting cleansed of the virus and sleeping with animals? One would really be tempted to ask.
It appears therefore that some Malawians don’t want to believe that up until today there is no cure for HIV/AIDS and the only drugs that are available for Aids are the anti-retro viral drugs which unfortunately cannot cure Aids but just prolong the lives of those people living with the virus.
Obviously, this is why we hear time and again some herbalists claiming that they have found some concoctions, which they say, can cure Aids. In Machinga, for example, there was one Mr. Chisupe who drew much hullabaloo and popularity in the 90s with his famous ‘Mchape’ drug. Memories are still fresh of how people drove from far-flung corners of Malawi to be given a dosage of the concoction.
Then came Mr. George Kumbuyo from Mulanje with his Chambe drug and just recently we have heard a certain woman in Mangochi also claiming that she has found a cure for Aids. And sad to note is also the fact that many people are trekking to this woman hoping to get cured of the disease despite authorities proving that the drug does not cure Aids, as people given the drug are still HIV positive. Very sad indeed!
But, who is to blame? Obviously, the
herbalists are to blame for wanting to make money by cheating people that they have found the Aids cure. But I also think it boils down to the question of acceptance of ones HIV status. Many Malawians, it seems, don’t want to accept their HIV status after testing positive. They thus end up believing some senseless myths that result in the spread of the disease thereby undermining the government’s effort of reducing HIV transmission.
Perhaps it is now time that Malawians realized that being HIV positive does not mean the end of ones life. Elsewhere, in South Africa, for example, which has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, many people after testing positive, accept their results and continue to live positively with their lives and end up living longer than expected. These HIV/AIDS myths will lead us nowhere!
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