Though the fight against the coronavirus pandemic is an inclusive effort by stakeholders and the government, mental patients and mentally impaired people have been excluded from the fight.
This group of people due to their already traumatized conditions have been denied and left to struggle alone in wake of the virus.
In an exclusive interview with the Upper East Regional Coordinator of the Mental Health Department, Edem Quarshie Ameglah on A1 Radio, he noted that since the outbreak of the virus his department has not specifically received any support from the government.
“Not that I know of, since the outbreak of the virus I have not personally received anything from the government to aid in the fight against COVID-19. To me, it is not surprising in the sense that as a department, we have been deprived of basic things for long.” He said.
According to him, past and present governments have never contributed enough to the growth of the Mental Health Department.
“When it comes to providing the necessary tools for the growth of this department, I will say it has not been encouraging.” Mr. Ameglah added.
Based on this, it is not a surprise that the government and stakeholders in health have forgotten to include mental patients and mentally impaired people in the fight against the coronavirus. This is definitely contrary to the health policy on all-inclusiveness.
Mr. Quarshie Ameglah, however, pointed out that even though there was no data to show, it would not be out of place that the majority of mental patients and mentally impaired persons have suffered extremely in wake of COVID-19.
“There is no proof that mental patients and mentally impaired people are immune to the virus. They are human beings like us all and are more vulnerable to the virus than some of us. So, I will suggest if there are other ways we can collectively help protect these people, we have to act now. Yes, some groups in the region once provided facemask, and other materials to the department, more needs to be done. Let us not forget that already these people are traumatized psychologically and now added to the pandemic, you can imagine how they feel.”
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
