CELEBRATING MENTAL HEALTH IN CONSTANT DRUG SHORTAGES

Sir,

October is globally known for celebrating and sensitising of mental health and cancer. The month came at a time where local public health facilities are faced with serious and perennial psychiatric drug shortages. These facilities get their supplies through purchases by government. 

It then implies that the nation had nothing to celebrate when faced with this quagmire but to only lament helplessly as their relatives relapse back to a state of illness as they no longer have their drugs that keep them healthy and able to face daily living demands. The 2020 Mental Health Day theme was or is Mental health for all; Greater investment-greater access.

Drugs

Sadly, the unavailability of these drugs has been happening for some months now. Other drugs have not been available since 2019 and this has resulted in families and communities watching their loved ones relapsing and continuing with their bizarre behaviour. This also waters down the great efforts the psychiatric team in the country has done in managing these clients because they are now watching them helplessly as they relapse. 

Available

And some of the clients are forced to stop working due to their mental conditions even if they have the means to buy but these drugs are not readily available in local public hospitals and some chemist outlets. And if they are available at chemist outlets, they are very expensive for ordinary folk. With the border’s stringent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s difficult to travel to South Africa to purchase them. 

Therefore, the Swaziland Democratic Psychiatric Nurses Association (SWADPNA) has written this letter in an effort to plead with members of Parliament to advocate for their people and push the Government of Eswatini to purchase these drugs. 

Furthermore, individuals are reminded to take good care of their mental health as this is key for a person to function. A disturbed mental state can be likened to a malfunctioning engine of a car. The only psychiatric hospital in the country has found itself attending to clients they had managed before with minimal resources because of their relapse. This takes away the element and feeling of job satisfaction from the dedicated psychiatric personnel of the hospital and those in government hospitals. After so much effort, everybody is sick again because they lack their daily dose of medication.

However, we would like to encourage people to avoid alcohol and drug abuse. People must ensure that they seek counselling during stressful moments. It is essential to exercise and eat healthy foods. People must learn to create time to rest, refresh and make time for entertainment. October is a mental health month, but for everybody even November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August and September should be months where people have to ensure that they remain with the responsibility of taking care of their mental health.

SWADEPNA Secretariat 

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: