Differently abled, mentally imbalanced: Gamba’s disremembered category amid coronavirus outbreak

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By AMADOU MANJANG

Since the Gambia confirmed her first case of COVID-19 to the proclamation of the state of public emergency by President Adama Barrow, many people stay home for their safety but several among mentally imbalanced and homeless are left on the streets.

Kaddy Jamada, right activist in the service of differently abled said the physically challenged and the mentally imbalanced peoples are left out of the fight against COVID19 pandemic.

Kaddy is the founder of Kaddy’s Foundation for Differently Abled People aimed at supporting the differently abled and the mentally imbalanced people in society.

She said the mentally imbalanced deserve attention, saying that they are part of the category that do not deserve to be neglected but to be prioritized in situations like this especially by the government in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

She observed that society is not playing its utmost role in protecting them.

“Families deserted their people on the streets without concern in the fight against coronavirus,” she said.

She pointed out that the mentallyimbalanced and the differently abled people are totally distanced as the forgotten category of society amid the pandemic to face the risk in isolation.

“When we talk about COVID-19 people don’t even mention them. People don’t care. When you look at the deaf community they are not also given the attention required in combating COVID-19. We need an inclusive society,” she stressed.

She stated that if the government is ready, something can be done to help these categories of our society as equal human beings who deserve care.

Visit to Tanka-Tanka Psychiatric Hospital

On Tuesday, March 31, Kaddy’s Foundation for Differently Abled People visited Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital in Brufut, Kombo North district, West Coast Region to share posters and donate hand washing sanitizers to fight COVID-19.

Kaddy said during the visit she realized that the place was overcrowded with poor social distancing which is one of World Health Organization recognized measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Tank Tanka Psychiatric Hospital doesn’t have enough rooms except the two building which comprise the male and the female wing which are all congested,” she said.

She explained that the psychiatric hospital is facing challenging as they want to release some patients but the families of the inmates are not responding, leading to the overcrowding.

“The government needs to do something about the situation to decongest the place,” she appealed.

MoBSE education program and exclusion of differently abled

Kaddy applauded the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) for the recent education programme for students to continue learning during state of public emergency, but she was quick to criticize the ministry for not creating similar programs for deaf and visually impaired children.

She added that deaf and visually impaired children have the same right to benefit from the programme but forgotten by ministry that should have protected their right to education.

She expressed dismay about the exclusion of a category of society, citing Section 30 of the 1997 Constitution that guarantees an inclusive society where no person should be left out, denied or neglected,” she said.

She lamented the situation of poor families without television sets for their children to participate in the lessons or students in the province without electricity, stating that there are lots of children who will not benefit from programme.