ASABA/Nigeria: Residents of Delta State have commended the state government’s evacuation of mentally challenged persons and destitute from the street to receive medical attention and care.
They made the commendation in Asaba, the state capital and across Warri metropolis during the cleanup exercise conducted by the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Several children and dozens of deranged men and women were evacuated during the operation.
Different types of deranged individuals were taken during the cleanup process, including the calm and funny ones, and others who protested their seizure by men of the taskforce.
Reacting to the development, a public servant in Asaba Amber Roberts and a trader Ibechukwu Eze, lauded the initiative.
“Very fantastic. I like it very well.”
“To evacuate the mad people from the street, to keep them in a place that the government can properly take care of them, is a welcome development.”
Delta State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Mrs. Flora Alatan, noted that those arrested would be be evacuated to the over ten partner psychiatric hospitals in the state.
“Last year when we did the evacuation, about six of them were given cash, but we discovered same persons were still coming back to the roads constituting neusance and security risks to the state. And the only thing we can do is to continue the evacuation, because it is like they derive pleasure in what they are doing.”
The Permanent Secretary, Mrs Kevwe Agas, stressed the cleanup was aimed at deterring child labor and begging in public places.
“If we establish that the child is from Delta State, we will do everything to make sure that that child actualises his purpose.”
A Specialist from Agbor, Dr. Ego Ufua, observed that over three hundred patients have been treated at his clinic since the partnership with the state government in 2016.
A similar exercise was executed in Warri metropolis and Uvwie by the taskforce comprising of personel from the Department of Rehabilitation, a team of psychiatrists and men of the Nigerian Police force.
