There Are Still ODGJ Imprisoned In Mukomuko, Health Office Guarantees The Treatment Process At The RSJ Is Now Not Difficult

Mukomuko Regency Satpol PP personnel secure people with mental disorders (ODGJ) who wander the streets, in March 2021. (ANTARA-Ferri)

MUKOMUKO - The Health Office (Dinkes) of Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu Province, revealed that the process of treating people with mental disorders (ODGJ) at the Mental Hospital in Mukomuko is now not difficult.

The Mental Health Program Manager of the Mukomuko District Health Office, Deni said, the convenience was thanks to his party having synergized with the local Social Service (Dinsos).

"Now referring ODGJ patients to be treated in mental hospitals has gone smoothly because of the collaboration with the Social Service. Previously we had not," he said in his statement, quoted from Antara, Sunday, August 14.

He said that now his party is going to villages to see ODGJs who are in pasung, and this year there are five ODGJs referred, such as two ODGJs in Air Rami Sub-district and the residential unit (SP) VIII.

Currently, there is one more resident who suffers from mental disorders in Pondok Suguh District and it is suspected that this resident was shackled by his own family, but to be sure his agency has not dispatched a team of doctors there.

He explained whether the ODGJ in Pondok Suguh sub-district were in pasung or was it like the treatment for ODGJ in the SP VIII area, which was deducted from the chicken coop.

"Because now there are many activities so we haven't had time to go down, but we will go down to ascertain whether the status of ODGJ is severe and requires a referral for treatment at a mental hospital," he said.

He said, based on data from the first quarter of January to March 2022, there were 245 ODGJ spread across a number of areas in this area.

He said the number of ODGJ in this area is high compared to other districts, partly because economic powerlessness is thought to be the cause of most local residents experiencing mental disorders.

"Most of it is due to economic factors, there is also a love factor due to a breakup and congenital," he said.