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Elliot Ziwira
Senior Writer
Society has a way of stigmatising and isolating mothers due to misconceptions surrounding mental and other disabilities.
Usually, the tendency is to associate such challenges with witchcraft, evil spirits and disregard of taboos during pregnancy if mothers deliver children with disabilities. In most cases such mothers are ostracised, either financially or socially as punishment for what they have no power over.
It is this stigmatisation and isolation that leads to acquisition of mental disabilities on both mothers and their children.
The First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has been at the forefront in the fight against the stigmatisation and isolation of mothers of children with disabilities. Through Angel of Hope Foundation, which she leads as Patron, the First Lady has partnered pertinent organisations in an endeavour to economically empower such mothers.
At the belated commemorations of the World Mental Health Day at L’Arche Zimbabwe in Waterfalls, Harare recently, Public Service Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima implored communities to refrain from blaming mothers, and burdening them with the fending of abandoned children.
The day is celebrated globally each year on October 10, to raise awareness on mental health issues and advocate against social stigma. This year’s theme is “Mental Health for All”.
Although mothers may mitigate mental health challenges in infants by sticking to balanced diets and abstaining from taking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, Prof Mavima said, they may not be blamed on genetically oriented disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome.
“The stigma and isolation that mothers experience due to misconceptions that surround mental disability within families and communities may result in some of them acquiring mental health challenges that in turn result in them abandoning their children with mental disabilities in unsafe places”, he said.
Prof Mavima underscored that isolation and exclusion of persons with mental and other disabilities were a thing of the past as Zimbabwe has joined the rest of the world in adopting practices that take everyone on board as families are wont to.
The idea is not only to integrate people with mental disabilities; young people and adults alike, but to make them feel a sense of belonging.
“The bottom line is that young people and adults with mental disabilities alike, do not just want to be integrated, but they want to belong, and a community environment that satisfies their desire for belonging is likely to go a long way in enhancing their health and well-being,” the minister said.
Everyone equally contributes to the familial, communal and national good in their own unique way, for “disabilities, are in some way directly connected to some abilities..
In a speech read on his behalf at the same occasion by Clinical Psychologist, Mrs Debra Machando, World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, Dr Alex Gwasasira said employment data reveal widespread discrepancy in opportunities to the disfavour of people with severe intellectual disabilities.
Dr Gwasasira underlined the need for advocacy and financial support in the provision of mental health services, pertinently in Africa as globally “one in every four people will be affected by a mental disorder in their lives.”
He added that mental health needs in Africa were significant, with 15 countries on the continent being among the top 30 globally for suicide incidents per 100 000 people.
Dr Gwasasira highlighted that even though globally many countries have established national health policies, access to services is usually limited to specialised institutions in capital cities.
Whereas there are nine mental health workers per 100 000 people globally, the ratio is 0,9 to 100 000 in Africa with a third of the workforce being non-professionals.
Senator for Disability Issues Rejoice Timire thanked Prof Mavima for always being there for people with disabilities, and for forging partnerships with organisations like L’Arche Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to create inclusive communities for all citizens with or without intellectual disabilities.
Tatenda Chimombe (23), who has an intellectual disability, treated guests to a touching poetic rendition on depression, highlighting what it means to be enclosed in a prison where no one else can neither share nor understand. Nonetheless, she implored, depression, leading to suicide, could be overcome through “more hugs and smiles” as it is “ok not to be ok.”
Online Reporter