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{
    "id": 813231,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/813231/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 230,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Chebeni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13187,
        "legal_name": "Mercy Chebeni",
        "slug": "mercy-chebeni"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to reply to this Motion. I would like to thank all Senators who have contributed and given recommendations to this Motion. We will take into account all the issues they have raised concerning this sector. These include issues of resources like qualified trained personnel, budgetary allocations, increasing the level of mental health awareness among Kenyan citizens and also psycho-social support centres or institutions in our country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, mental health is, indeed, a major issue that has been neglected. It is time for the Senate to champion for a change in attitudes towards the administration of mental health illnesses. We cannot talk about health without acknowledging the mental health aspect. Therefore, I would like to thank the Senators who have contributed to this Motion. Mr. Temporary Speaker, all mental illnesses are treatable and this country has the capacity to handle all cases at all levels, both at the national and county. We should not limit our budgetary allocations to only two or three per cent, yet we can take care of this problem as a country. We should not let our people to continue suffering and yet it is an issue that we can deal with. I, therefore, echo the sentiments of my fellow Senators in calling for a separate budget when it comes to mental health issues. Some Senators have raised the issue of coming up with a database for patients, free treatment and capacity building to ensure that we increase the number of professionals. It is sad that we only have 88 psychiatrists to deal with 45 million Kenyans. This is not fair and we will take that into account. We have also heard from Sen. Seneta on the issue of benchmarking. As a country, we need to learn how to deal with mental health issues in all aspects. We need to go out there and see what developed countries have done with regard to mental health issues. Without saying much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I kindly request Senators to vote in support of this Motion to enable us to move forward with the recommendations they have given us. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."
}