WHAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAD TO SAY:
Mental health services
“The abuse of Master 900 is now a pandemic! Each week, a lot of emaSwati die in the country by ingesting the substance, while some even feed the substance to their innocent children. We need to do something about this before more lives are lost, over the past 3 months since January already over 10 Swazis have taken their lives by ingesting the poisonous pesticides, and the sad part is that once you take master900 you shall die and you won’t make it to hospital. The government of Eswatini needs to take steps to ensure public safety when it comes to the sale and use of this product.
“I think there should be more regulations in place to make sure that only qualified people are selling and administering this product, and that people are educated about the risks involved. Additionally, there should be more research into the potential health risks associated with the product, so that people can make informed decisions when using it. I think it’s important to address the root causes of suicide in Eswatini too, including poverty, lack of access to mental health services and social isolation. I also think that there should be more public education campaigns about the dangers of abusing substances like Masta900, and more resources available for people who are struggling with depression in Eswatini.” - MELULEKI SLUGA SIMELANE
Call for strict regulation
“I think the death of people from the abuse of Masta900 is extremely unfortunate, and I believe there are steps that government can take to improve public safety. One recommendation would be to implement stricter regulations on the sale and use of this product, such as requiring a prescription or only allowing trained professionals to use it. Additionally, I think it’s important to increase public education and awareness about the risks associated with Masta900. I also think it’s important to offer alternative solutions to this product, such as safer alternatives that have been proven effective.” - NONTSIKELELO DLAMINI: