Johannesburg, South Africa, Sep 22, 2016 / 05:01 am
The unexplained deaths of three dozen mentally ill patients in a South African province show the need for action to help this vunerable population, the country's bishops have said.
"As a society, we should never forget that the lives of the mentally ill are precious before God. The lives of the mentally ill should therefore be considered to be more important than the dictates of fiscal efficiency and profit making," the Justice and Peace Commission of the South African Catholic Bishops' Conference said Sept. 19.
"The families and the whole country need answers. We send our heartfelt condolences to all affected families."
Earlier this year, 36 psychiatric patients died within months of being removed from the Life Healthcare Esidimeni Centre to local NGOs and other facilities in Gauteng province.