Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has warned against setting up of illegal healing and rehabilitation homes in any part of the state.
The warning came on the heels of the discovery of an illegal rehabilitation home along the Iwo-Osogbo Road, on Thursday.
A statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, on Sunday said with government’s investment in a care centre for people with mental challenge, no one has reason to patronise unqualified homes for mental illness.
The statement said, “The attention of the Government of Osun has been drawn to the existence of an uncertified rehabilitation home where about two dozens of mentally challenged persons have been discovered.
“The discovery was made off the Iwo-Osogbo Road on Thursday, February 23rd, 2017.
“Preliminary investigations have indicated that the person who claims to be in charge of this rehabilitation home; the entire environments of the location and other relevant factors have shown that this is unacceptable.”
The statement explained that the government has moved fast to evacuate the emaciated mentally challenged persons who were found to be in different deplorable states of health to its facilities at the state hospital and rehabilitation home while the state police command continues with its full investigations.
The statement added, “This is therefore to state categorically that the Government of Osun will not permit the setting up and running of rehabilitation homes in any part of the state.
“As a government with a high sense of responsibility to its people, the State, through its Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and Special Needs, has put in place a rehabilitation home that meets international standards. Anything short of these standards would therefore not be permitted.”
The Government called on all citizens to take advantage of the existing government facilities for rehabilitation of mentally challenged persons which it said is at very little or no cost to them.
