Monthly Archives: January 2022

Despite global advances in disability rights, stigma towards individuals diagnosed with mental illness is common across the African continent. In Ghana, research has shown that one of the main roots of stigmatisation is the belief that mental illnesses are caused by supernatural forces, including spiritual punishment for parents misdeeds. As a result, Ghanaians with mental illness are often mistreated (sometimes violently), mocked by family members and even denied access to their children.

In some cases, parents abandon their mentally ill relatives, either locking them away in their homes or leaving them in spiritual camps where they may suffer abuse and neglect. Where facilities are available, some parents send mentally ill children to psychiatric hospitals.

Ghana has three main psychiatric hospitals. All are in the southern part of the country. But even in these cases, the patients are often abandoned for years on end, and healthcare providers themselves have been known to mistreat patients, deny them food and medicine, and even forcibly detain and physically abuse them.

Ghanas mental health authority was established by an act of parliament in 2012 to implement policies appropriate for the treatment of individuals diagnosed with mental illness.

The denial of basic human rights is a significant national issue, because as many as 10% of the population live with mild mental illness and 1%-3% live with severe mental illness. Due to stigma, neglect and abuse, many of them are also rendered powerless and voiceless.

In our research Ghanaians tell their stories about mental illness. We spoke to 10 about their experiences. Their narratives about stigma and discrimination offer important grassroots accounts of the lived experience of mental illness in Ghana, which we hope can contribute to better policy and programmes in the future.

In the first phase of our research we collected stories from 10 current and former in-patients at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. Located in the nations capital, the hospital is Ghanas first formal psychiatric institution and is one of three main government funded psychiatric hospitals in the country.

In-depth interviews with the participants revealed many insights into stigma towards mental illness.

They reported constantly being reminded of their illnesses through derogatory remarks and name-calling by family members, friends, and strangers in the community. Some referred more explicitly to the problem of stigma in their daily lives. Others were (or are) involuntarily institutionalised, abused physically by family members and strangers, and banished from public spaces. These experiences harmed our participants deeply at a personal level. They felt fear and shame, which led them to hide their conditions from the public, conceal hospital visits and withdraw from their communities.

Most important, perhaps, was the extent to which the patients (most of whom were Christian) had internalised the belief that mental illness has spiritual causes.

One told us:

I was brought here (to the hospital) because of the spirit that entered my room.

Spiritual causes were believed to result from sin or curses imposed by others. After admitting to consuming alcohol and taking marijuana, one patient said that a fellow church member attributed the mental illness to sin and insisted that he needed to ask for forgiveness. Another believed that they had been under a curse that the enemy has used against me to destroy my life.

Internalised stigma often produced feelings of shame among our participants, and a reluctance to admit that they were patients at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. One participant told us that when he had to attend appointments using public transport, he always alighted far away from the entrance so that his fellow passengers would not know he struggled with mental illness. Another participant hid his diagnosis from friends and acquaintances, only telling them that he was visiting the hospital.

In many cases, the sense of shame was reinforced by experiences of discrimination and abuse driven by stigma. Informants spoke of being cheated by market traders, for examples and even physically abused.

I was getting my hair cut in a barbering salon when two men came in and dragged me into a car on the street.

The men apparently did not feel it appropriate for someone with mental illness to get a haircut in public.

But spiritual beliefs also provided a coping mechanism for mentally ill Ghanaians suffering from stigma and abuse. Some of them thanked God for whatever happened and ascribed their illnesses to Gods plan, because experiencing mental illness brought life lessons and personal growth.

One found refuge in God and the church.

They sometimes call me an illiterate and even tell me my head is not well shaped. You know wisdom and knowledge, it is God that gives it. But I do not care because I know God created us in his own image Thank God, all the challenges I face within my society I am able to handle it.

Coping mechanisms and resilience were one of the more surprising findings of our study. Their existence should not, however, be used as an excuse for inaction. Religion might offer a place of refuge, but it is also part of the larger problem of stigma, which in turn lies at the root of many of our participants negative experiences.

Sharing their stories may provide a sense of empowerment, through engaging in discourse that could help destigmatise mental illness. Beyond this, it offers the hope that publicising the lived experiences of mental illness would encourage the Ghanaian government and citizenry to respond out of a sense of duty, necessity and community. Part of that response should be the provision of resources, including personnel, to treat individuals diagnosed with mental illness.

Originally posted here:

Mental health patients in Ghana share their stories about stigma and suffering - The Conversation CA

With us already one month into Q1 2022, the time for Malaysia to announce its first five digital banks is drawing near. A digital banking licence in Malaysia could provide non-bank companies the ability to conduct all banking services through platforms like an app.

For a brief explainer, digital banking essentially opens up the horizon of financial technology beyond online banking.

Think whatever you can do online now (checking your balance, financial statement, transferring funds, etc.), expanded to include opening up a new bank account online, applying for loans, and more, without having to visit a physical bank. Learn more in our introduction to digital banking here.

Out of the 29 applicants vying for the licence, only a maximum of 5 consortia will be chosen by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Successful applicants that meet all criteria will be expected to contribute towards greater financial inclusion in Malaysia. This will be done by offering products and services to address market gaps in the underserved and unserved segments, including retail, along with micro, small, and medium enterprises (micro SMEs).

More specifically, BNM is looking to identify 3 types of digital banks amongst applicants:

Not forgetting that Malaysia is running on a dual banking system, those that get the licence must comply with Financial Services Act (FSA) and Islamic Financial Services Act (IFSA) regulations.

From what we can see, applicants with a local traditional bank in their consortium may not be at the forefront of getting a digital banking license. This is because incumbent banks are already permitted to provide their services online, and would not need a new licence to operate in the digital banking space.

Furthermore, those with a digital banking license in countries such as Singapore could be more favourable as a digital bank in Malaysia as well. In doing so, the consortium could leverage its user base and provide access for expansions in larger overseas markets.

Now that weve run through the criteria and set some expectations, here are the 5 consortia, arranged alphabetically, that we think have the best chance of getting a digital banking license.

Who they are: BigPay is a financial service by airasia Digital that provides users who register through its free app with a prepaid debit card that can be used wherever Visa or Mastercard are globally accepted.

The fintech app has partnered with financial services, Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF), and Ikhlas Capital, a Singapore-based private equity fund manager to apply for a digital banking license.

Their potential: MIDF is focused on providing services in the areas of investment banking, asset management, and development finance while Ikhlas Capital has over US$300 million of assets under management.

This points to a potential for the consortium to have the assets and capital to build products and services aiding underserved markets in Malaysia, including individuals and businesses.Not to mention, BigPay has recorded 1 million card users as of December 2021, pointing to a market primed for its digital banking services.

Aside from being a portfolio company of one of Malaysias three unicorns, if BigPay were to be granted a digital banking licence, itd be a homegrown success story thatll do Malaysia proud.

Potential challenges: BigPay faces the ongoing issue of numerous scammers that have marred its reputation.

Considering Malaysias digital banks are meant to serve communities with low financial literacy, becoming a digital bank puts a bigger target on BigPays back.

To combat this, BigPays team has set up marketing campaigns and warnings to educate users against such scammers. Internal safeguards such as the launch of virtual cards which can be easily deactivated and deleted have also been placed to catch and shut down scammers before they appear.

The company has reportedly seen a sharp decline in scam cases and overall complaints sent in by users, suggesting that these efforts are currently working.

Who they are: Grab needs no introduction, what with the Nasdaq listed companys super app taking over the country during the lockdowns. Meanwhile, Singtel is a Singaporean telecommunications conglomerate.

Their potential: The Grab-Singtel consortium has already secured its digital banking licence in Singapore.

Having raised US$300 million for its financial services arm Grab Financial Group, the company has the capital to grow its financial services. It also has the resources and customer data to strengthen and personalise its current offerings within GrabPay, PayLater, and insurance.

In Singapore, Grab has a financing programme that provides drivers, merchants, and enterprises greater access to financial services. If localised for the Malaysian market as well, it can benefit local gig workers along with micro SMEs, fulfilling the expectations of a digital bank as outlined by BNM.

Potential challenges: Its worth noting that BNMs digital banking licensing framework highlighted a preference where the controlling equity in the licensed digital bank is held by Malaysians.

With Grab and Singtel headquartered in Singapore, it suggests that the Malaysian investors that are part of the consortium are meant to check this box for regulatory purposes.

But its also interesting to note that Maybank has a 30% indirect stake in the company that operates GrabPay in Malaysia, so this could sway the stakes in the consortiums favour.

Grab did not confirm the other Malaysian parties that are part of this consortium. However, the company said that it aims to continue spurring economic empowerment for Malaysians through its digital bank.

Who they are: Despite an unsuccessful digital banking licence bid in Singapore, Singaporean financial services company iFAST, along with Chinas digital bank, Yillion Group, have put in their attempt for the framework in Malaysia.

THZ Alliance (THZ) is an investment firm founded by Tengku Dato Dr Hishammuddin Zaizi, who is a cousin of the Sultan of Selangor. Koperasi Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (KATM) is a cooperative organisation for Malaysian military personnel.

99 Speedmart is a convenience store brand best known for its affordable prices with 1,500 stores around the country.

If the application succeeds, the Singaporean fintech company will lead the consortium with a 40% stake, while the beneficial equity ownership of the consortium will be 57% Malaysian.

Their potential: iFAST is a wealth management fintech platform that is one of Malaysias only fully digital equity stockbroking services.

Dictionary time: Stockbroking is a service which gives retail and institutional investors the opportunity to buy and sell equities.

The fintech platform also has the means to open access to provide credit for businesses. This can help SMEs drive their growth as they overcome financing barriers related to documentation, cash flow issues, strict credit criteria, and limited use of traditional financial services.

Yillion Groups experience as a digital bank in China also poses its own benefits.Its ability to provide small-amount deposits and easy loans to individual customers in consumption scenarios such as purchasing food, clothing, housing, and transportation makes it an attractive choice to win the digital banking license.

Such loans are also given to micro SMEs and merchants that provide goods and services to common people. With this service, underserved market segments like the B40 population can have access to loans and investment opportunities.

Together with Malaysian companies like 99 Speedmart, the consortium has the reach and existing customer base from B40 populations.

Not forgetting that KATM and THZ supply governmental relations, the latters website has made a dedicated page advertising the benefits the consortium presents if chosen as a digital bank.

Who they are: The parent company of Shopee, Sea Group also has a game developer and payments company under it. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), it serves customers worldwide.

The Singapore-based company is bidding for a digital banking licence with Malaysian conglomerate YTL Group. Its activities span hotels, property, technology, infrastructure, and more. The groups core business has US$17.1 billion in total assets.

Their potential: Sea Group has already secured a digital banking license in Singapore. Its fintech ventures in Malaysia include ShopeePay and SPayLater, which have a wide regional user base.

In Q2 of 2021, Shopee Malaysia amassed approximately 54 million users per month, indicating its relevance and strong brand presence in the local market. Not to mention, it has large data sets of customer behaviours and trends on how Malaysians spend their money.

Securing a digital banking licence will enable Sea Group to create personalised financial solutions that will be applicable to the needs of Malaysian consumers. With a local conglomerate under the consortiums belt too, one could say this pushes them ahead of a contender like Grab.

Who they are: AEON Credit Service is a non-bank financial institution (NBFI) providing services such as the issuance of credit cards, easy payment schemes, personal financing, and insurance.

To roll out its digital banking services, it will be partnering with its parent company, AEON Financial Service which holds a 60% stake in the consortium.

Their potential: AEON as a brand is a household name in Malaysia, with AEON Credit Service having a 25-year track record operating on our shores.

With over 4 million customers, an ecosystem of 65 retail outlets, various card products, along with personal and vehicle financing, the group has its own infrastructure already built up.

Leveraging its existing resources from customers and their data, industries, talents, technology, internally-generated funds, the NBFI should face little issue developing personalised products to fulfil BNMs push for financial inclusion as a digital bank.

Sunway being a household name with activities in healthcare, property, retail, leisure, and remittance makes the Malaysian conglomerates consortium with LinkLogis and Bangkok Bank a strong contender as well.

Furthermore, it has a 51% stake in Credit Bureau Malaysia, which could play a valuable role in securing it a digital banking licence.

Ultimately though, all we can do at this point in time is share our predictions with information we already have. Only time will tell if our research-based predictions ring true, or if BNM will surprise us all with its final pick of the five digital banks.

Featured Image Credit: Anthony Tan, CEO and co-founder of Grab / Salim Dhanani, CEO and co-founder of BigPay / Forrest Li, CEO of SEA Group

Original post:

We predict these 5 consortiums will win the Msian digital banking licences, heres why - Vulcan Post

After being denied a Congress party ticket, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channis brother Manohar Singh said on Sunday that he would contest as an Independent candidate from the Bassi Pathana Assembly seat.

Meanwhile, BJP and its ally SAD (Sanyukt) have appealed to the Election Commission to postpone the February 14 polls in Punjab in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti. Earlier CM Charanjit Singh Channi had also made a similar request. In other news, a case has been registered against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia over alleged violations of Covid-19 norms.

Here are the top developments from poll-bound Punjab:

After Channi, BJP & SAD (Sanyukt) also seek postponement of Punjab polls

The BJP and its ally SAD (Sanyukt) have appealed to the Election Commission to postpone the February 14 assembly election in Punjab in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, after the BSP and Channi made similar requests to the poll panel.

The birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas falls on February 16.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday seeking postponement of the election, Punjab BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma said, The state has substantial population of followers of Guru Ravidas ji, including the Scheduled Caste (SC) community which is about 32 per cent of the population of Punjab.

On this pious occasion, millions of the devotees would visit Banaras in Uttar Pradesh to celebrate the gurparb. So it would not be possible for them to participate in the voting process. It is therefore requested to your goodself that the date of voting may be postponed so that these voters of Punjab could participate in the election process, he wrote.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) chief Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, in a letter to the poll panel, also sought that the date of voting be postponed.

Earlier, CM Channi had urged the Election Commission of India to postpone the February 14 Assembly polls by six days in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti.

SAD leader Majithia booked for violations of Covid norms

A case has been registered against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia over alleged violations of Covid-19 norms.

The case was registered under the relevant provisions of law at the Sultanwind police station, according to an official release issued here on Sunday. The release said violating the Covid norms, Majithia was received by hundreds of SAD supporters at an entry point of Amritsar city on Saturday.

The SAD supporters were seen honouring the former Punjab minister with garlands and siropas and these activities were captured on camera, it added. Majithia and his supporters violated all the Covid-related norms as well as the restrictions imposed by the Election Commission, the release said. Following the registration of the FIR, police will initiate action in accordance with law, it added.

Punjab CM Channis brother says will fight as independent from Bassi Pathana seat

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channis brother Manohar Singh, who was eyeing a Congress ticket from Bassi Pathana assembly seat, on Sunday said he will contest as an Independent from the constituency after the ruling party fielded its sitting legislator.

In its first list of 86 candidates, the Congress on Saturday gave the ticket to party MLA Gurpreet Singh GP from Bassi Pathana (SC) seat.

Manohar Singh dubbed the decision as injustice with the people of the constituency and alleged that the sitting legislator was incapable and ineffective.

Several prominent people of Bassi Pathana area have asked me to fight as an independent and I will go by what they have said. There is no chance of going back and I will surely fight the polls, Manohar Singh told PTI over the phone.

Singh had in August last year resigned as a senior medical officer from Kharar civil hospital. Singh has done his MBBS and MD. He also holds a postgraduate degree in journalism and has also studied law.

Vote as you see fit, Radha Soami Beas sect to followers

Radha Soami sect Beas, which has a sizeable number of followers in Punjab and some other parts of the country, has asked them to vote as they see fit in the assembly elections in five states.

Polls are being held in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur in seven phases between February 10 and March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

According to sources, the circular issued from the Beas headquarters headed by Gurinder Singh Dhillon to all Radha Soami Satsang centres across the nation says the sect has respect for all political parties as all are equal for us.

To cast vote is the personal right of each individual. So, here we all should exercise our voting right after the application of mind and keeping in view the wellbeing of the entire society, said the circular.

Empowering women has always been on top of my agenda, says Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday said empowering women has always been on top of his agenda as their empowerment is vital for the development of any society.

Empowering women is vital for the development of any society & it has always been on top of my agenda. No society can prosper without giving a due respect to women. Have taken several path breaking initiatives to empower them & I, their brother, shall always stand by their side, he tweeted.

Channi also said that in the short time (of 111 days) which he got as the chief minister before the model code of conduct came into force, he did his best for the welfare of all.

I have always stood for equal opportunities and worked for the progress and prosperity of the state and its people. With the little time I had, I did my best for welfare of all. With your continuous support, we will soon restore the pristine glory of the State, he said in another tweet.

A few days ago, the Punjab chief minister had claimed that it will be a one-sided sweep by the Congress.

(With PTI inputs)

View original post here:

Punjab poll wrap: CMs brother to contest as Independent; BJP, SAD (Sanyukt) want voting deferred - The Indian Express