Bayelsa Moves 15 Mentally Ill People Off Yenagoa Streets For Treatment

(Bayelsa Gov. evacuates lunatics. photo by FB/Ubong Akpan)

The Bayelsa State Government has picked up about 15 people with mental health problems from the streets of Yenagoa and taken them to a specialist hospital for treatment, rehabilitation and a possible return to normal life.

A team of doctors, social welfare officers and rehabilitation officers carried out the exercise under the watch of the Commissioner for Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development, Hon. Joanah Gigi.

Gigi said the move followed a directive from Governor Douye Diri and is meant to restore the health and dignity of the affected people.

She said only a few could be taken for now because the hospital has limited bed space, and that the government will return for the rest after this.

For now the exercise is focused on Yenagoa, where many of them have been seen.

She said the doctor expects the first round of treatment to last about three weeks.

After that, the government will ask each person where they come from and send them back home where needed.

She described the project as a joint effort between the state government and the Ministry of Women Affairs.

Gigi also praised Governor Diri for including vulnerable people who are not from the state, saying anyone living in Bayelsa is one of its people and gets no discrimination.

The exercise took place as Bayelsa marked 30 years since its creation.

Gigi congratulated Bayelsans and the state government on the anniversary and also greeted Nigerians on the Independence anniversary.

She said the state sees the exercise as part of wider efforts to protect vulnerable people, support their welfare and dignity, and help them return to society.