By Monica Islam:
Razia (name changed) developed autism at the time of her birth due to medical negligence. At the rural clinic in Bangladesh where she was born, the nurses fed her at least two sleeping tablets to stop her from crying at night. While the doctors at the clinic claimed it was a congenital disorder, experts elsewhere in the country blamed the drugs for Razia’s condition.
When Razia was ten years old, bite marks and other signs of sexual abuse were found on her body. Her mother alleges it was a family member who abused her, but she took no further steps to identify and punish the perpetrator.
At present, Razia has to live with a malfunctioning nervous system and non-performing limbs, among many other complications. She is dependent on her mother for basic care. Razia’s education suffers in a country where schooling facilities for special-needs children are primitive. She does not express any disgust for her molesters. How would she if she is not taught the many facts of life, including those pertaining to sex?
Razia is a member of my extended family, and I have seen her distress very closely. It is for this reason that I am profiling a development practitioner who is passionate about inclusion.
Shamsin Ahmed initiated the project 'Identity Inclusion' to identify the needs of people with psycho-social disability and to break the barriers affecting their capacities to participate in society. She came up with the idea after working on a disability inclusion initiative as a young professional at BRAC’s Social Innovation Lab, where she realized that most institutions in Bangladesh are not inclusive of people with disabilities and don't even know how to be. She also took part in Leadership for Mental Health System Development organized by the James P Grant School of Public Health, where she learned of the dire situation of mental health in Bangladesh.
When it comes to people with cognitive disabilities, the situation is worse as they are excluded not only from workplaces and educational institutions, but from entire communities. "Stuck at home without access to education, recreation, and employment, such people are excluded from the mainstream way of life. It is as if they don’t exist," notes Shamsin.
Consequently, Shamsin’s project aims to involve not only the affected individuals, but also other members of the society who might be contributing to the exclusion. The project team held its first support group meeting in April, which was attended by family and friends of people with cognitive ailments. Two critical findings emerged: (a) the family members did not know where to seek help without being stigmatized; and (b) they often resorted to prevalent stereotypical measures, such as pushing the affected person towards marriage, as a solution.
Identity Inclusion’s interventions are designed in collaboration with professionals from Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed, National Institute of Mental Health of Bangladesh, and Dhaka University’s Educational Counseling Psychology Department. In addition to support groups, the project team organizes psycho-social training for youths.
Most statistics suggest that [envoke_twitter_link]80% of the people suffering from mental health issues are located in developing countries[/envoke_twitter_link]. In Bangladesh, less than 0.5% of the national health budget is allocated for mental health. There is no comprehensive National Mental Health policy in the country. Amidst this backdrop, Shamsin Ahmed’s Identity Inclusion project is a refreshing step.
"Whatever we do, we should try to understand before expecting to be understood; we should at least try to help before judging and walking away," says Shamsin on a parting note.
The post “It’s As If They Don’t Exist”: Bangladeshi Woman Reveals A Shocking Negligence appeared first and originally on Youth Ki Awaaz.