MENTAL patients who say they are starving at their homes
are seeking re-admission to Ingutsheni Central Hospital where food supply is
better, the hospital’s clinical director Dr Wellington Ranga has said.
In an interview on Monday, Dr Ranga said due to food
insecurity elsewhere, some discharged mental patients keep coming to the
hospital for readmission as the psychiatric institution provides better food.
He said in mental health care matters, food is a top
priority for patients. Ingutsheni Central Hospital has a total of 629 patients.
“We now have a challenge where some people no longer want
to go home because they get better food here. When it comes to mental health
issues there is a segment which I use which we call ‘life satisfaction’ because
where you are now you’re thinking about other things in life. But for our
patients, basics is what drives them which is food. Even when you meet them in
town, they are not worried about how they are dressed. Food plays a very
critical role in their life. This is the main thing that they want,” he said.
Dr Ranga said while some do not want to be discharged
others return to the hospital after being discharged, resulting in authorities
struggling to turn them away.
He said if they are turned away and they go out and commit
crimes, hospital officials could get in trouble if investigations are held and
it’s discovered that they had turned them away.
Dr Ranga said even family members have found ways of
bringing their relatives back to the mental institution. He said the hospital was in a stable position due to
support it gets from Government.
Dr Ranga said mental health education was needed as stigma
associated with the condition is very high. Chronicle
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