Eighth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

The right to health is an indisputable socio-economic right that no individual regardless of his race, gender age or economic status should be deprived of. Regrettably the issue of mental health is given less priority by many States in Africa. Article 12(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Right mentions that state parties must recognize the enjoyment to the highest attainable standard of physical and “mental health.” Yet it is quite common for states to prioritize various issues robustly related to health ahead of mental health. This paper emanates from the “Life Esidimeni Tragedy” in South Africa which resulted in the deaths of 143 people and torture of 1418 others with chronic mental illness in private mental health facilities. This was caused by gross neglect blamed on the Department of health in Government in providing access to adequate proper meals, drinking water, proper basic hygiene and adequate psychotic medication to stabilize their conditions. Prior to the beginning of this horrific ordeal on October 2015 the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health terminated a 40 Year contract with Life Esidimeni Private Hospital Group to cut down Government expenditure. This was mainly attributed to the Government Health department in Gauteng Province following an unfeasible National health policy of de-institutionalizing mental health services by outsourcing private inexperienced Non-Governmental Organizations to take care of people living with chronic mental disorder. This paper has an objective of unpacking the socio-economic right to health from the angle of mental health policy and implementation.