The case of Pëllumb Elmadhi, a patient suffering from schizophrenia for 20 years, has highlighted the failure of institutions responsible for caring for patients with mental health problems.

His story is a sad reflection of the lack of services and indifference from responsible structures, which have left Pëllumbi to suffer in inhumane conditions, isolated and abandoned by the system.

Journalist of the show "Tak Fak", Rovena Cerka, contacted the director of the Social Service of the Municipality of Rrogozhina, Ledio Hasani, who admitted that the village of Domen is covered by this municipality and the social service worker has visited Pëllumbi only once every three months.

According to him, the lack of services is due to the difficult terrain, avoiding responsibility for negligence in the case of Pëllumbi.

However, at the journalist's insistence, Director Hasani admitted that he had learned about the Pëllumbi case only 2-3 weeks ago.

When asked about his responsibilities, he avoided explanations and called the administrative unit specialist to give a telephone interview.

This reaction shows a clear lack of coordination and care for individuals who need specialized treatment.

Bashkim Çela, a former social service employee and now retired, also confirmed that his successor was unaware of Pëllumbi's case and stressed that in 2022, an attempt had been made together with the police to send Pëllumbi to the hospital, but this had not been accomplished due to a lack of cooperation from the police.

Director Hasani, under pressure from the media, preferred to leave and lock himself in his office without providing further clarification on the Pëllumbi case.

This reaction is a reflection of the failure of the structures that should protect the rights of citizens and ensure decent treatment for those suffering from mental disorders.

"Tak Fak" journalist Rovena Cerka interviewed in Tirana, the director of the Social Service for the Tirana District, Alfred Muharremi, who claimed that he had knowledge of the case and that Pëllumbi had been hospitalized several times in the psychiatric hospital in Tirana.

But according to him, Pëllumbi has not been noticed by social services as living in isolation conditions as seen in the dramatic footage broadcast a few weeks ago by "Tak Fak".

"This is probably because the family members were aware of our checks and he was always dressed and accompanied by his wife in the garden of the apartment in Domen," adds Muharremi.

But the director of Social Services, Alfred Muharremi, claims that today there is no possible service for this category.

"Due to the small number of residents and funds, we are lacking services, it is impossible to meet all the needs for these services. If the service chain does not function, it breaks somewhere, I, as the highest hierarchical leader, cannot receive the information," he said during the interview for "Tak Fak".

Lawyer Redi Ramaj emphasized that every citizen has the right to receive specialized treatment, regardless of whether they are in the care of their family.

Ramaj said that in such cases, the intervention of institutions is mandatory and that any inaction is an abuse of power.

According to him, a patient with mental problems cannot be kept in inhumane conditions and must be treated in a specialized institution to ensure his health and the safety of others.

"The effects on oneself and others can be great and the institution's inaction is a dereliction of duty. The family's views cannot be taken into consideration when the person themselves is in inhumane conditions within the home environment."

"He needs urgent treatment and there is no consensus with the family here, his stay at home should be in normal conditions. These are fundamental human rights and he should benefit from them, regardless of his illness," lawyer Redi Ramaj told "Tak Fak".

After the intervention of "Tak Fak", Pëllumbi was sent for specialized treatment at the Elbasan psychiatric hospital, where there have been significant improvements in his condition.

His wife and son have confirmed the change in their condition and thanked the show for the support and assistance they were offered in this case.

(BalkanWeb)