AYV News, August 16, 2024
Sierra Leone’s National Taskforce and Substance Abuse shows that more than 95% of male cases in mental homes are drug related.
The One Health Approach organised a sensitization and advocacy work to educate the public about the priority Zoonotic Diseases and popularization of the function of the National Public Health Agency for preparedness to respond to public healthy emergencies.
The event took place at the Peace Museum on July 30th 2024.
The National Public Health Agency is a science-based government organization that serves as a focal point for leadership, expertise, and coordination to address public health concerns in line with national public health needs and global health security requirements.
Speaking at the event, a representative from the National Taskforce on Drugs and Substance Abuse, Fatmata Bakarr Sesay said that the Taskforce has done a tremendous work in the fight against drug and substance abuse in the country. She stated that more that 95% of male cases in mental homes are drug related.
She explained that the agency has collaborated with other partners in educating the public about the dangers of drugs and substance abuse. She disclosed that many people live-in disaster-prone areas because they engage in drugs and substance abuse. She mentioned that many youths have become drug addicts noting that this has become a huge burden on government and other stakeholders.
She revealed that Sierra Leone faces a huge public health crisis due to escalating drug and substance abuse particularly Kush which is a synthetic drug. “Some women usually take antibiotic as treatment for certain pains against doctor’s advice and this has the propensity to destroy their organs”, she said. She urged the public to stop drug abuse adding that they only take drug based on doctor’s advice.
She said that the country is facing serious threat in terms of drug abuse and this has become a crisis. She called the public to stand firm in the fight against substance abuse in the country. The government established a rehabilitation center for drug and substance abuse addicts in Hastings in May 2024, and the formation of the task force underscored the urgent need to address the epidemic in the country she said.
She continued that the task force has employed multi sectorial approach at district level and that the government will also provide skills training center for substance abuse victims in order to empower them through skills training.
A representative from the National Public Health Agency said that the agency provides for the promotion, protection and improvement of health and wellbeing in Sierra Leone. He stated that the agency also provides prevention and control of the spread of infectious/modifiable diseases; it provides for local government and community in protecting public health.