By Rosemary Okoduwa
The Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has reunited a rehabilitated Togolese national, Mr. Micheal, with his family after months of medical treatment, rehabilitation and psychosocial support.
Micheal was among several mentally challenged persons rescued from the streets during a special operation by the Ministry to remove vulnerable persons from public spaces and provide them with comprehensive care aimed at restoring their mental health and facilitating their reintegration into society.
Handing Micheal over to his brother on behalf of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, the Director of Rehabilitation Services, Mr. Sylvester Okoeguale, said the successful rehabilitation and reunion underscore the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and restoring hope to individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
He noted that the intervention aligns with the Ministry’s mandate to provide care, rehabilitation and social reintegration for vulnerable and disadvantaged persons in Edo State.
Hon. Abdallah reaffirmed that the Ministry will continue to implement programmes and initiatives that promote the welfare, dignity and inclusion of vulnerable members of society.
She also advised members of the public to avoid activities that could negatively affect their mental health, particularly substance abuse and other harmful practices. The Commissioner urged individuals and families to seek prompt medical and psychological care whenever signs of mental illness are observed, while encouraging communities to support persons living with mental health conditions instead of stigmatising or abandoning them.
Receiving his brother, Micheal’s sibling, who travelled from Togo after learning of his whereabouts in Nigeria, expressed profound appreciation to the Edo State Government and the Ministry for rescuing, treating and rehabilitating him.
He revealed that the family had searched tirelessly for Micheal for a long time before receiving information that he had been found in Nigeria and was undergoing rehabilitation in Edo State.
Describing the reunion as a dream come true, he commended the Ministry for its humanitarian intervention and prayed for God’s continued blessings upon the Edo State Government and everyone who contributed to his brother’s recovery.
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