Oyo State government has rehabilitated one 53 years old mentally-challenged Sadia Adeyemo evacuated from the street recently, and handed her over to her family in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
This is as the government promised not to relent in its efforts to create conducive atmosphere for all the people of the state to develop their potentials and work towards achieving better life for all its citizens irrespective of their social background.
The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, made the promise while reuniting on behalf of the state government, Sadia Adeyemo, and the family, at the state secretariat at the weekend after being sanctified as mentally fit and balance.
“About two weeks ago, precisely on Thursday, January 30th, 2020, the ministry, together with relevant agencies, non- governmental organization and security agencies embarked on its routine evacuation exercise as usual and we evacuated and apprehended beggars, destitute and mentally deranged persons off the street at Mokola Under bridge among whom were nine (9) mentally deranged persons who were handed over to one of our supportive non-governmental partners, Emmanuel Rehabilitation Centre for Mentally-Ill People, Oja Igbo for immediate and adequate treatment.
“Today, I am delighted that the state government has reunited Sadia Adeyemo, a 53 years old woman who was a petty trader before her illness with her aged father, Pa Afolabi Adeyemo, and her first child, Mr Afeez Nurudeen,” she explained.
Mrs Adeyemo, a mother of seven (7) children has been battling with the challenge in the past eight years until help came her way through the state government.
Alhaja Sanni further stated that others in her condition were still undergoing treatment, assuring that as soon as they were stabilized, they would be reunited with their families as efforts to trace their families through the information got by government were ongoing.
She encouraged people that had close relations who were passing through similar challenges to come out of their shell and report appropriately.
“Though the situation is disheartening, it is better to identify and report on time before it degenerates and with the help of God, things would be normal,” she added.
Receiving his daughter, Pa Afolabi Adeyemo who could not control his emotions expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration for contributing his quota to humanity and for not neglecting the less-privileged who roamed the streets as a result of one misfortune or the other adding that history would not forget the good deeds of the governor.
Also, Afeez Nurudeen, one of the woman’s children, lauded the raiding exercise and solicited continuity in order to help those who were still wandering the road sides to get medical attention.
Earlier, the founder of the NGO, Emmanuel Rehabilitation Centre for Mentally-Ill People, Oja Igbo, Ibadan, Dr Adeniyi Lawal, while handling over Mrs Adeyemo back to the state government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, thanked the state government for its efforts saying the reunion was the best way to handle psychiatric patients.
“Once they are reunited, they are been reintegrated into the society to live a good life and be useful to their family and the society at large.
“This would not allow the problem to reoccur and once they are well treated and are medically and mentally fit, they must be rehabilitated with much love and care,” Dr Lawal emphasised.
He noted that psychiatric or mental problem is not a disease and not contagious, but with drug management, counseling, adequate feeding and prayers, it could be treated and well managed once the problem was identified.
In her teary response, Mrs Sadia Adeyemo was full of gratitude to the state government and the proprietor of Emmanuel Rehabilitation Centre for taking care of her and restoring her sanity, urging them to keep up the work for the sake of humanity.
