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"id": 904859,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
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"legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
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"content": "what is the cause and how can it be treated? From the Bill, mental disorders are not permanent. They are curable and someone can go back to society and be productive. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as we talk of recoverability, there is need to sensitise the public and communities, so that when somebody has been cured from a mental disorder, he should not be seen as an outcast. The person should be allowed to be part of the society and go on with his life. Sometimes you cannot even blame the society because many people may not know how to accept and include people who have been rehabilitated from mental problems. Regarding sensitization, this is where counties come in. The Bill talks about having programmes that speak to mental health in counties. If we have such programmes, it will be possible to prevent cases of suicide. For example, when you read newspapers and listen to electronic media, you hear of people who are depressed. In fact, yesterday, I watched on television a case where a man in a certain county decided to kill the ‗jezebel‘ in his life and thereafter decided to commit suicide. These are cases of depression. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if this person was spoken to in good time, we would have arrested the situation. Stress can be addressed if we have centres at the county level, which take care of the mental ability of people. In case people have problems, they go to the centres, so that they are given psychosocial support. Some of these issues are a matter of talking to people, making sure that they see the sense in living and that it is alright to be stressed sometimes. Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. has clearly said that there was public participation on this Bill and input from the stakeholders that attended. Therefore, this Bill is acceptable and should see the light day. I like the amendments that are proposed in this Bill and commend Sen. Kasanga for this. There is an important amendment in Clause 7 on protecting the property of persons with mental illness. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there are people who are so cunning to people with mental disability. For example, family members will say that now that so and so is sick, they want to administer his or her property. Therefore, at the end of the day, they take away someone‘s property in the name of taking care of it. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there is need for the property of persons with mental issues to be safeguarded. This is because persons with mental issues have children and next of kin. It is biblical that a good person leaves an inheritance for his children and his children‘s children. So, why should we deny someone who has mental disability this biblical blessing of leaving an inheritance for their children and their children‘s children? There are many instances when they are abused and their properties taken away. However, this Bill will ensure it does not happen. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Clause 8 has an amendment of New Section 4A in regards to when there is a vacancy in the board. In fact, there was a lacuna in the principal Act that this Bill is amending. The principal Act did not state what would happen in case a board member dies and there is a vacancy. However, this particular amendment fills that lacuna. It states that:- ―The office of a member of the Board shall become vacant if the holder— (a) dies; The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}