Lagos Assembly to make law catering for persons with mental disorder

The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday moves to enact a law that would regulate and cater for persons with mental disorder.

A Bill for a Law to Provide for Mental Service 2018 scaled through the second reading on floor of the House.

Mr Segun Olulade, Chairman, House Ad hoc Committee on Health Services, said the objective of the bill was to protect the rights of persons suffering from mental disorder.

Olulade said: “When passed into law, this bill will guarantee the health of persons with mental disorder as we have at the federal level.

“The bill also seeks to repeal the existing lunatic law in the state to have a better health service for people living with mental disorder.

“This bill provides opportunity to collaborate with other health service providers in the efforts to take care of these people”.

Olulade, representing Epe Constituency II in the House, added that the bill would not only protect the rights of persons who are mentally derailed but also guard against discrimination.

He said that the bill, when eventually passed into law, would create and maintain mental health data bank.

Also contributing to the debate, Mr Tunde Braimoh, Chairman House Ad hoc Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, said the bill would disabuse the minds of those who believed only people who were on the streets were mentally ill.

Braimoh, representing Kosofe Constituency II in the House, said that the proposed law would take care of persons in the traditional mental homes treating people with mental disorder.

Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, Chairman, House Ad hoc Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions, commended the removal of the word “lunatic” from the title of the bill.

According to her, it is a way of protecting the dignity of persons with mental disorder.

In his opinion, Mr Abiodun Tobun, Chairman, House Ad hoc Committee on Works and Infrastructure suggested that the treatment of persons with mental challenges should be free.

He said that since no family members prayed for such sudden occurrence, it would be appropriate for the government to take the responsibility.

Also, Mr Gbolahan Yishawu, Chairman, Ad hoc Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, said that there were penalties regarding neglect as well as having sexual relationship with persons with mental challenges.

Yishawu added that there should be fine for concealment of persons suffering this ailment because of societal stigma.

Meanwhile, the House screened Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s nominees for the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM).

Those screened included four former members of the Commission, namely: Mr Olawale Mogaji, Mr Balogun Afolabi, Mrs Ajoke Risikat and Mr Bode Tawak.

The only new nominee screened was a three-term former Secretary of Agege Local Government, Mr Afolabi Ayantayo.