From CHARLES SIMENGWA in Paris, France –

FIRST Lady Esther Lungu has called for love and care for people with mental health problems, many of whom have been neglected by their families.

Ms Lungu said mental patients deserved better care than the situation currently was because they were vulnerable members of society.

She was speaking on Monday after she toured the Perce-Neige Centre for people with different mental disorders.

The First Lady urged the Zambian Government to create special shelters for people with mental disorders to enable them lead a decent life like other people.

She said there was need to give people living with mental illness love and care to make them feel part of society.

“A number of people with mental disorders in Zambia have been neglected by their families and they lead destitute lives,” she said.

The Perce-Neige Centre is run by the Artistic Ventura Family which had built 40 houses accommodating 1,000 people with mental disorders across France.

Ms Lungu said there was need for Government and business houses in Zambia to form partnerships to assist those suffering from mental disorders and make them enjoy their rights by accessing all the basic needs of life.

She joined the inmates in their various activities much to their excitement.

She took time to interact with the patients at the facility who were engaging in social activities, among them, painting and dancing.

Ms Lungu commended management at the Center for providing effectively for the patients, especially that she had a heart for people with disabilities in Zambia.

Perce-Neige Center founder Christopher Lasserre Ventura praised Ms Lungu for visiting them.

Mr Ventura, who explained that the center was a joint venture with the French Government, said the family provided shelter for the patients, while Government provided funding to all the 40 facilities across France.