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{
    "id": 777550,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/777550/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 233,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mbai",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 181,
        "legal_name": "Benson Itwiku Mbai",
        "slug": "benson-mbai"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise in support of the appointment of Mr. Tum to the State Department for Health as the Principal Secretary. I concur with the President that Mr. Tum qualifies to head the department. I have some concerns which I request the Committee and the Principal Secretary to take note of. My concern is on matters mental health. Mental health is a serious problem in our country. Since Independence, we have had very little concern over this issue. Most young men in the villages, up-country and in towns like Nairobi and Mombasa have been affected by drugs and alcohol abuse. They end up suffering from this condition. I want to see Mr. Tum take action on this matter. First of all, we need to demystify this condition. It needs to look just like any other medical condition. Mental health problems are taken to mean that you are mad while technically you are just undergoing a health problem like malaria or typhoid. The other concern is over our mental health institution in Mathari. We need to demystify it. The perception that Mathari Hospital is a place for mad people actually scares our people. In the villages and towns you will hear somebody being called or pointed out as a former patient of Mathari Hospital then people will run away from him or her because of that. Such people are taken lightly within the social circles. My request to Mr. Tum and the Committee is that first of all, we should invest heavily and take centre stage in caring for patients of mental health nationally. We should also demystify the perception that people have about mental facilities. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}