But such remedies still worry those who have to look after the patients as this mother explained. This year's World Health Day, specifically devoted to mental health, was expected to enlighted the public about mental disorders and the plight of sufferers. Mentally disturbed persons are often ignored even by official health facilities which, in so doing, are simply taking cue from traditional societies which had no mercy to the mad. With no case management of the mentally ill by modern medicine, mediums are thriving in the islands because many people hold on to outdated beliefs that such diseases have something to with supernatural powers. In most of the Comorian families it is believed that mental disorders are the result of a curse brought about by wicked or jealous people.
Families ruin themselves economically by spending all their savings in fees claimed by quacks.
According to an official report, mental disorders affect 11.6 percent of the Comorian population. The Comorian government is determined to fight the problem, Health Minister Athoumane Jaffar Abbas said. The islands' former director of health, Dr Mbaye Toyb, had suggested construction of special wards for such patients at existing hospitals until such time a full-fledged psychiatric centre is built. His proposal, however, was not followed up. In the meantime, hundreds of affected people remain at home, without any care.