Don't go mad these days

Don't go mad these days

BANYUMAS, Central Java: People with mental problems should
avoid this town because its mental hospital has been fully booked
since campaigning began two weeks ago.

Hospital director Sutoto said yesterday the 60-room hospital
was so overwhelmed that patients had to wait days for beds to
become available.

"People coming for treatment are mostly civil servants,
elementary school teachers, college lecturers, students, farmers
or traders," he said.

There have been no surveys on why more people have been
seeking treatment at the hospital since campaigning began.

There has been no survey to find out if the increasing number
of people seeking treatment in the hospital has to do with the
heating political climate ahead of the May election.

The United Development Party has accused the government of
pressuring civil servants to help Golkar win the election.

Elementary school teachers are struggling after their meager
salaries have been slashed by the government.

Sutoto said patients were usually admitted to the hospital
after faith healers had given up on them. (wah/har)