All kinds of mental'worlds'
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Nerun Yakub
Last Monday a much-circulated national daily front-paged the extraordinary story of one Amjad Fakir, erstwhile vegetable peddler/rickshawpuller who recently, and quite suddenly, metamorphosed into a self-proclaimed faith healer and 'pir' of Munshiganj. The paper captured in graphic detail --- both text and pictures -- the horrific manner and methods the so-called fakir employs to 'treat' his many patients. Among those getting his deadly dose, as witnessed by the reporter, were poor Pushporani's two and a half-month old twins Dipa and Nipa, and the mentally-challenged Zorina, mother of one Enamul Hoq. Many more have been at this demented man's mercy but these examples should suffice to illustrate the incredible 'worlds' that still exist in beloved Bangladesh.
When Pushporani stepped into the fakir's domain, we understand, she was told that her babies were surely possessed by evil spirits and these have to be exorcised as he deems fit. Pushporani spotted some other infants hanging upside down, and recoiled, deciding against the consultation. But the Fakir's two sidekicks did not give her a chance. They snatched the twins from the mother's breast and handed them to the fakir. The 'treatment' commenced. First, the babies were suspended by one leg and swung vigourously round and round, regardless of their terror-stricken cries; then they were thrown on the mat, the healer kicking them from one end to the other, then standing on each of them till they could no longer cry or breathe; and finally tying them to a pillar by the leg -- all this to get rid of the devil which supposedly possessed them -- the jhinn/bhoot/preth -- though all they suffered from was fever and cough ! After such sadistic treatment it is a miracle the infants were still alive, to the relief of their equally traumatised mother who said the fever had worsened after the barbaric ordeal.
Zorina too was diagnosed with the self-same devil-possessed condition and instructed to be left with the pir, to be beaten day and night for seven days till she blacked out. Treatment get more colourful with the ghost-chasing session getting staged at dead of night with drums, harmoniums and instrument players drowning the screams of the patients as they receive the usual slaps and kicks and whippings, and are forced to 'dance' to appease the so-called possessors. Amjad claims to 'know' from 'on above' what treatment to administer to whom and does not hesitate to invoke Allah to his assistance. [One wonders whether the making of this pir is due to madness or a cunning ploy to take innocents for a ride and earn his keep. Or is it something worse ---- a satanic neuroscientific study under certain controlled stimuli ? We are told, it is indeed possible, theoretically, and practically, to induce certain kinds of behaviour among individuals and groups of people, even large ones. Nikola Tesla's work done a century ago must now be ripe for more mind-boggling experiments than we ordinary humans can fathom.] Zorina's son confessed to the reporter that he saw no improvement in his mother's condition.
It is amazing that although no patient was known to have been 'cured' by Amjad, his 'committee' of sidekicks see to it that superstitious innocents keep getting caught in his web and bring in money and provisions and the 'ijjat' that comes with pirhood. This, mind you, in a country dreaming of going digital ! Who knows whether it is some kind of mental disease or plain thuggery and deceit on Amjad's part ? The National Mental Health Institute said recently that 16 per cent of adults aged eighteen and above in Bangladesh suffer from some kind of mental disease. Given the fact that the voting population is 81.0 million (8 crore, 10 lakhs), this means the number of mentally ill is about 12.8 million ( one crore, 28 lakhs, six thousand). Extreme cases make up to 0.1 per cent of the total sufferers while most --- 15 per cent --- are diagnosed as mildly ill, usually from various anxiety and depressive disorders. The NMHI figure for addiction-induced mental disease is 0.6 per cent only, although specialists in this area believe it to be much higher.
It is for various 'experts' to argue over the methods employed to arrive at these data, but the overall picture is that far too many people are stressed enough to be considered 'mentally ill.' Most are administered psychiatric drugs rather than psychological, nutritional and other holistic therapies. And herein lies the danger. Careless use of mental disease medications can wreck people beyond recovery, and even make them suicidal. Adverse drug reactions (ADR) reports, compiled by medication-related consumer rights activists, testify to such hazards. Critics say the 'medical industry' often trivializes dangerous side-effects as they are bent on boosting business more than healing people. Many big pharmaceutical companies manage to win loyal physicians who test newer and newer products on their patients and rarely are ADRs considered.
The worrying fact is all kinds of psychiatric drugs are available over the counter and even half-baked doctors have been found to prescribe them without hesitation, and without follow-up. This aspect of the medical industry needs to be regulated, A serious study, to assess the extant to which iatrogenic illnesses are growing as a result of wrongly prescribed drugs or over-medication of right ones, is urgently required in Bangladesh.
According to the NMHI, the number of mental health specialists in the country -- only 117 -- is way below the requirement for such a vast population, although, some 4,500 general practitioners have been specially trained for the purpose, as well as six thousand 'health workers', 150 nurses and 172 imams. In addition, sixty doctors have received training to deal with post-disaster mental traumas. NMHI sources reportedly deplored the fact that there is only one institute of its kind for the whole of Bangladesh apart from Pabna Mental Hospital and some 'model' hospitals here and there, including special departments in the Medical colleges and hospitals. But infrastructure alone is no guarantee that the health deliverers would be functioning sincerely and efficiently enough to make a difference in the lives of those perceived to be mentally challenged. It would perhaps be more cost- effective to institute alternative therapies like counseling, diet and exercise, prayer or meditation, as is being recommended by holistic practitioners worldwide.
Last Monday a much-circulated national daily front-paged the extraordinary story of one Amjad Fakir, erstwhile vegetable peddler/rickshawpuller who recently, and quite suddenly, metamorphosed into a self-proclaimed faith healer and 'pir' of Munshiganj. The paper captured in graphic detail --- both text and pictures -- the horrific manner and methods the so-called fakir employs to 'treat' his many patients. Among those getting his deadly dose, as witnessed by the reporter, were poor Pushporani's two and a half-month old twins Dipa and Nipa, and the mentally-challenged Zorina, mother of one Enamul Hoq. Many more have been at this demented man's mercy but these examples should suffice to illustrate the incredible 'worlds' that still exist in beloved Bangladesh.
When Pushporani stepped into the fakir's domain, we understand, she was told that her babies were surely possessed by evil spirits and these have to be exorcised as he deems fit. Pushporani spotted some other infants hanging upside down, and recoiled, deciding against the consultation. But the Fakir's two sidekicks did not give her a chance. They snatched the twins from the mother's breast and handed them to the fakir. The 'treatment' commenced. First, the babies were suspended by one leg and swung vigourously round and round, regardless of their terror-stricken cries; then they were thrown on the mat, the healer kicking them from one end to the other, then standing on each of them till they could no longer cry or breathe; and finally tying them to a pillar by the leg -- all this to get rid of the devil which supposedly possessed them -- the jhinn/bhoot/preth -- though all they suffered from was fever and cough ! After such sadistic treatment it is a miracle the infants were still alive, to the relief of their equally traumatised mother who said the fever had worsened after the barbaric ordeal.
Zorina too was diagnosed with the self-same devil-possessed condition and instructed to be left with the pir, to be beaten day and night for seven days till she blacked out. Treatment get more colourful with the ghost-chasing session getting staged at dead of night with drums, harmoniums and instrument players drowning the screams of the patients as they receive the usual slaps and kicks and whippings, and are forced to 'dance' to appease the so-called possessors. Amjad claims to 'know' from 'on above' what treatment to administer to whom and does not hesitate to invoke Allah to his assistance. [One wonders whether the making of this pir is due to madness or a cunning ploy to take innocents for a ride and earn his keep. Or is it something worse ---- a satanic neuroscientific study under certain controlled stimuli ? We are told, it is indeed possible, theoretically, and practically, to induce certain kinds of behaviour among individuals and groups of people, even large ones. Nikola Tesla's work done a century ago must now be ripe for more mind-boggling experiments than we ordinary humans can fathom.] Zorina's son confessed to the reporter that he saw no improvement in his mother's condition.
It is amazing that although no patient was known to have been 'cured' by Amjad, his 'committee' of sidekicks see to it that superstitious innocents keep getting caught in his web and bring in money and provisions and the 'ijjat' that comes with pirhood. This, mind you, in a country dreaming of going digital ! Who knows whether it is some kind of mental disease or plain thuggery and deceit on Amjad's part ? The National Mental Health Institute said recently that 16 per cent of adults aged eighteen and above in Bangladesh suffer from some kind of mental disease. Given the fact that the voting population is 81.0 million (8 crore, 10 lakhs), this means the number of mentally ill is about 12.8 million ( one crore, 28 lakhs, six thousand). Extreme cases make up to 0.1 per cent of the total sufferers while most --- 15 per cent --- are diagnosed as mildly ill, usually from various anxiety and depressive disorders. The NMHI figure for addiction-induced mental disease is 0.6 per cent only, although specialists in this area believe it to be much higher.
It is for various 'experts' to argue over the methods employed to arrive at these data, but the overall picture is that far too many people are stressed enough to be considered 'mentally ill.' Most are administered psychiatric drugs rather than psychological, nutritional and other holistic therapies. And herein lies the danger. Careless use of mental disease medications can wreck people beyond recovery, and even make them suicidal. Adverse drug reactions (ADR) reports, compiled by medication-related consumer rights activists, testify to such hazards. Critics say the 'medical industry' often trivializes dangerous side-effects as they are bent on boosting business more than healing people. Many big pharmaceutical companies manage to win loyal physicians who test newer and newer products on their patients and rarely are ADRs considered.
The worrying fact is all kinds of psychiatric drugs are available over the counter and even half-baked doctors have been found to prescribe them without hesitation, and without follow-up. This aspect of the medical industry needs to be regulated, A serious study, to assess the extant to which iatrogenic illnesses are growing as a result of wrongly prescribed drugs or over-medication of right ones, is urgently required in Bangladesh.
According to the NMHI, the number of mental health specialists in the country -- only 117 -- is way below the requirement for such a vast population, although, some 4,500 general practitioners have been specially trained for the purpose, as well as six thousand 'health workers', 150 nurses and 172 imams. In addition, sixty doctors have received training to deal with post-disaster mental traumas. NMHI sources reportedly deplored the fact that there is only one institute of its kind for the whole of Bangladesh apart from Pabna Mental Hospital and some 'model' hospitals here and there, including special departments in the Medical colleges and hospitals. But infrastructure alone is no guarantee that the health deliverers would be functioning sincerely and efficiently enough to make a difference in the lives of those perceived to be mentally challenged. It would perhaps be more cost- effective to institute alternative therapies like counseling, diet and exercise, prayer or meditation, as is being recommended by holistic practitioners worldwide.