When Prof David Ndetei rewinds his memory to 20 years ago on how mental illness was handled, he can afford a smile. At that time, stigma was at its peak and mistreatment of the mentally ill and disabled persons was the order of the day.

Forward to present, the situation is much different. Psychiatrists like him say society is finally beginning to understand that mental illness is treatable or manageable and those affected can be productive members of the society.

Medical personnel dealing with the mentally ill and disabled persons are finding it difficult to test them for HIV and AIDS or manage those who are HIV positive for fear of being taken to court.

According to nurses who deal with this class of patients, the law does not empower them to take consent on behalf of the patients before they are tested or put on drugs. Without legal backing, they are at a loss on how to start or force mentally ill patients who are HIV positive to take the antiretroviral drugs.

Cases of anxiety and depression disorders, the two leading mental illness, are on the rise among women leaving in some African countries, thanks to the current difficult economic times, gender roles and violence.

Findings of a recent study done at Kenyatta National Hospital by African Mental Health Foundation and which may strongly reflect what is happening in other African countries shows that 42 percent adults and 41 percent children who went to the facility were diagnosed with depression.

Maternal mortality, a well known women killer in the world has received recognition in the international and national forums but unfortunately it has continued to claim more lives.

Every year about half a million women lose their lives as a result of complications due to pregnancy or childbirth, yet this can be changed with proper intervention.

This is the story of women who have died of maternal mortality and whose story needs to adequately told.

For one who has not gone through maternal mortality can know its depth. And those who know are usually silenced by their early deaths as in the case the wife of a Member of Parliament in Uganda whose wife bled to death.