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It is sad that Sri Lanka does not produce an adequate number of
mental health professionals. It appears that not even the top teaching
hospitals such as the Sri Jayewardenepura hospital has staff trained to
handle mental patients.
This is not just a lack of psychiatrists but a general lack of
awareness amongst the nursing staff and the public as well.
One of the key areas former President Kumaratunga excelled was
highlighting and identifying some of the social disorders and serious
mental health issues in the Sri Lankan system that affected our national
productivity as a society. What happened to the programmes she started
to address some of these issues?
She was the first to advocate a centre to tackle the pathologically
high rates of suicide and mental distress levels in Sri Lanka.
Sadly the society at large are unaware that mental illnesses are in
fact diseases just like a viral or bacterial infection and most of them
can be controlled and even cured by a combination of drugs that tackle
the physiological manifestations combined with therapy and counselling
for the underlying emotional issues.
I was shocked at the lack of preparedness at Sri Jayewardenepura at
one time when dealing with serious medical issues such as schizophrenia
and paranoid delusional illnesses.
Such illnesses can hit anyone of any social strata, any race and even
medical doctors. The dearth of doctors can be complemented with trained
healthcare workers at rural level, better trained nursing and attendant
staff, before we address the limitations of producing more doctors
trained and specialised in mental healthcare.
We can ask international volunteer organisations to help by sending
specialized nurses and healthcare workers to train Sri Lankans.
If the public at large continues to ignore it specially when there is
a war going on that adds to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) we
will become a less productive nation in the future. Please do not mock
psychological disorders or resort to quackery.
Most of these physical symptoms can be tackled with medicines
combined with therapy including meditation, spiritual guidance, and
above all, patience and understanding of the causes.
Mano Ratwatte
It goes without saying that the democratic rights are sacred. The
polity, utilising those hallowed rights, with hearts fully filled with
dreamlike aspirations, elects their representatives to the Parliament.
But, it is an everlasting dilemma whether those members represent the
polity.
Simply, the Parliament should mirror her polity. But in this
enchanting isle, the Parliament blatantly distorts the image of the
country. If a keen outlandish observer tries to have an insight of the
status of the country, he will definitely embark on the conviction that
this country should be an utterly uncivilised, barbarous one. And he
will probably justify his grasp by referring to the Parliament.
Really, the behaviour of some of our present members, who were
escorted to the Parliament on the shoulders of people, is a
contamination of the sacred exercise of those people's rights.
As a youth I have heard that in the golden era of our Parliament
history, when D.S., S.W.R.D., Sirimavo, N.M, Colvin et al upheld the
ideals of the nation in supreme manner, the Parliament was an arena of
intellectual behaviour and the hazard was a purveyor knowledge and
served as a text book of English learners.
May that tribe be immortal!
To a sociologist, it is an utter waste of time to have a hard
observation in a slum to analyse their culture. What he should do is to
go to our Parliament and watch two or three sessions and submit his
thesis. He will definitely be able to give birth to a masterpiece in his
sphere. That would surely fit to deserve a doctorate. What a shame!
It is high time to remedy this malady recurrently happening in the
most sacred institution which embodies the democracy of the country. Our
Members of Parliament should reflect on themselves and adapt their
behaviour (if they possess any ability to reflect). And, otherwise it is
impossible to arrest the gradual erosion of people's faith in this apex
political body.
Chamara Nanayakkara,
Kahaduwa
The traffic police imposes on the spot fines for road traffic
offences. Although these are called on the spot fines, the fine is not
paid on the spot.
The motorists have to surrender their licences to the traffic
policeman on duty who issues a receipt.
This receipt has to be taken to the area police station during
working hours and a fine sheet has to be obtained which has to be taken
to a post office to pay the fine. After payment one has to return to the
police station and submit the payment receipt to obtain the licence.
This process takes several hours and an employed person usually has
to obtain leave from work to go through this process. If the offence was
committed in an area far away from the usual residence of the motorist,
even if it is 100 kms away, the licence owner or his/her representative
has to visit the area police station to do this process which may even
take a whole day or more.
Knowing very well that the harassment motorists have to undergo for
this process, they often book motorists for minor and trivial traffic
infringements.
Many motorists often unwillingly bribe the police officer to avoid
the cumbersome fine payment procedure.
The Government should without delay implement a procedure where
motorists can make cash payment for the fine on the spot and obtain a
receipt for it.
This is the only way that bribery and corruption can be stopped in
traffic police and lessen the harassment motorists have to undergo.
K.G.E.,
Nugegoda
The National Secretariat for Elders (NSE) under the Ministry of
Social Security issues Identity Cards for elders who are on or above 60
years of age.
It conducts mobile offices at various DSS divisions to collect
applications for the issuance of Elders ID.
Almost all the citizens above 16 carry personal identity cards (NIC)
since 70s, which give correct age and anyone can have an idea about the
holders year of birth by just looking at the first two digits of the
number, or looking at the reverse for the date of birth. Anyone who
looks at a person of 60 years or above can guess the age.
Is it necessary to carry another identity to prove that you are a
senior citizen. Already many seniors possess driving license, ATM card,
Credit Card, Debit Card, pensioner's card etc. The purse is full of all
these cards.
What is required now is not another card which is ignored at many a
bank, hospital, pharmacy, clinic, police station, public transport
system or any other public institution. NSE should make the public aware
of the need to respect senior citizens, and educate all the employees in
all institutions private or public to give priority for pregnant women,
Senior citizens.
Ours is an ageing society and it is high time to educate all workers
to respect seniors. All print and electronic media can play a major role
to help NSE, and canvass for dropping the idea of issuing of ID.
Kanchana Perera
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