Henrietta Mary Ayison, the Ahanta West MC
Lunatics have taken over Ahanta West Municipality in the Western Region, making the area their haven.
Statistics indicate that there are more mentally challenged people in Ahanta West than even Sekondi-Takoradi, the regional capital.
A visit to the municipality by Daily Statesman on Wednesday, January 13, saw the lunatics dotted at every vantage point. These exclude those chained at various homes by friends and relations.
Danger
Timothy Cobbina, the Municipal Health Director, says the situation is very dangerous, and has consequently urged political leadership to tackle it as a matter of urgency.
Besides the health hazards posed by these lunatics, he said, they can easily harm innocent people going about their normal duties.
Dr Cobbina regretted that there is not even a single rehabilitation centre in the municipality and the whole region for lunatics.
He, thus, reiterated a call on leadership to help provide one for them.
He said provision of such facilities would go a long way in integrating them back into the society, adding that mental illness is curable.
Treatment
According to him, bringing the lunatics together under a common roof will make their treatment very easy. They can also be offered employable skills like shoe, soap and bead making after recovery to earn decent living for themselves.
The Municipal Health Director identified stigmatization as a major hindrance to integration of lunatics into the society, and advised members of the public, especially friends and relations, to accept them back into their folds with love and care.
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