“Mama’s” Mental Health Worsens, Roams Street After Escaping from Tanka Tanka

Image of Mama on the first day our reporter intervened to get her medical treatment © Askanwi

By Haddy Ceesay

After Askanwi posted about an unidentified lady around Kerr Serign junction on 19th November 2024, who was behaving erratically towards people in the streets, our reporter and some passersby assisted her to access medical attention, where she was later taken by the Police to Nemban Clinic.

Since then, our reporter has been following the case and was later informed by drivers from Kerr Serign Junction that she was spotted behaving more erratically and roaming the streets with barely any clothes. Drivers at Kerr Serign Juction said that they assisted her to wear some clothes before she was released again.

After Askanwi posted the first story, reports flooding in from the public got us in touch with her family members who remain concerned for her welfare and safety.

Speaking to one “Kadija”, who identified herself as her “Mama’s” sister, she informed Askanwi that her father is disabled and her mother also suffers from mental health disorder.

Kadija explained that her father called her and revealed that Mama visited their residence with some police officers, highlighting that her mental health was deteriorating rapidly and he could only pray for her speedy recovery.

The father, who is visually impaired, explained that he couldn’t tell what was happening as he couldn’t see them but only heard their voices. However, after a while, it appears that Mama had absconded again.

Our reporter continued to investigate the case and later learned that Mama was apprehended and kept in Tanka Tanka, the country’s only psychiatric rehabilitation center. She was later said to have escaped from Tanka Tanka and once again roamed the streets without any clothes, where Drivers at Kerr Serign Junction managed to assist her to with some clothes

Mama’s struggle to get the right attention is reportedly a challenge she faces every November to December, which has resulted in her pregnancy with three children whose father’s are all unknown.

Two of the children are twins and residents at an orphanage for children.

This issue is a synopsis of The Gambia’s lack of facilities to handle persons suffering from mental health challenges. Just three weeks ago, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Daniel Joof, made an appearance on Coffee Time With Peter Gomez live on West Coast Radio, where he highlighted that the Gambia is ill-equipped to handle mental illness.

The program highlights how persons with mental health disorders face discrimination, stigmatization, isolation, and exclusion in society. Acutely insufficient attention is given to patients suffering from mental health, with the country boasting only one mental health facility which is also inadequately equipped.

To protect her identity and her family, Mama and Kadija are not real names of the persons affected.

Follow Askanwi for more details on Mama’s case.