‘Private sector should join Govt’s anti-drugs fight’
THE private sector should complement Government’s ongoing fight against drugs and substance abuse, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Drug and Substance Abuse, has said.
The Government is ratcheting up the fight against drug abuse, and last week, Dr Agnes Mahomva, who spearheaded the country’s fight against Covid-19, was appointed national co-ordinator of the drug and substance abuse programme.
Furthermore, Cabinet directed that all idle provincial Covid-19 isolation centres be converted into rehabilitation centres, among a cocktail of measures to suppress the scourge.
Responding to questions from The Sunday Mail, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the coming in of private players will boost Government’s efforts.
“As chairperson of the national committee, I want to urge the private sector and civil society to support the programme in our‘whole-of-society’ approach, as espoused by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa.
“The ‘whole-of-Government and society approach’is being employed to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against drug and substance abuse,” she said.
Seven pillars have been formulated to tackle the drug menace. These are the technical committee; supply reduction and demand reduction; harm treatment and rehabilitation; media and communications; community re-integration; legal and policy matters; and resource mobilisation.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said drug rehabilitation services have been provided in Government and private health institutions for treatment, medical detoxification and rehabilitation of referred and walk-in clients.
“Regarding prevention measures, the pillar implements parenting programmes to ensure a safe and healthy family environment which subsequently curbs drug and substance abuse in children.
“Under this programme, a total of 1 516 caregivers and children — 653 males and 863 females — managed to attend parenting sessions in their respective communities. Family support groups are being established and resuscitated for people who use drugs (PWUD). Individuals and families meet to share experiences, support and encourage each other to live drug-free lives,” she said.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said at its sitting last Wednesday, Cabinet had approved the two new pillars — legal and policy matters; and resource mobilisation.
To date, the Government has invested $500 million in fighting drug abuse, with part of the funding committed to financing police activities
that saw arrests of thousands of drug peddlers.
“The funding also saw the capacitation of 12 social development officers with psycho-social support requisite skills and knowledge, which they will use to man our two psycho-social support centres that we have been established in Harare and Bulawayo. The fund continues to support activities of all pillars and will go towards the procurement of vehicles for all the seven pillars,” she said.
A stand-alone rehabilitation centre has also been established at Chipadze in Bindura, with similar facilities to be set up in other provinces.
“Regarding other provinces, we have managed to identify eight idle isolation Covid-19 centres. The budget for renovations and upgrading of the centres has since been drafted for them to meet international standards for drug and substance abuse rehabilitation centres.
“We have also mooted a plan to utilise the 46 vocational training centres for rehabilitation and community reintegration services, focusing on empowerment and skills development. It is important to note that whilst we are waiting for establishment of stand-alone rehabilitation centres, our patients are currently accessing treatment, detoxification and rehabilitation services from the already existing health facilities,”she added.
A national call centre is expected to be fully operational before yearend as another strategy to fight drug abuse.