By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The Helping the Mentally Disabled Association (HEMDA) on Tuesday observed World Mental Day by
reaching out to mentally disturbed persons in parts of the Kanifing Municipality.
HEMDA said the Inspector General of Police (IGP),Abdoulie Sanyang, has provided the association with two vehicles and security to conduct their humanitarian activities in one of the country’s biggest local government areas.
As part of the global Mental Day commemorations, HEMDA volunteers have been going around to identify mentally disabled persons to provide them with care.
An Adviser to HEMDA, Mr. Abubacarr Jallow, in an interview with The Voice said: “The vision and objective of the association is to help those with mental health issues. HEMDA was established three years ago. What we do is that every year, we go around the country seeing those on the streets, who have mental problems. We talk to them. We don’t force them…some are aggressive but some are not. The IGP has given us two vehicles and security to go around and sensitize them, bathe, cut their nails, shave them, and change their clothes.”
Mr. Jallow explained that the association distributed a big bowl of food to the inmates at Tanka Tanka and another bowl to those in the streets as part of HEMDA’s activities, marking World Mental Day.
“They don’t have people caring for them. We at HEMDA are the ones caring for them. Last year, the First Lady gave us two rams, rice, and cooking oil to carry out our activities,” he stated.
The HEMDA adviser, however, said the association is grappling with financial issues as it depends on the goodwill of the public to fund its activities.