ELDORET, July 9, 2012

National Campaign against Drug Abuse in Kenya (NACADA), in collaboration with Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Eldoret has set a rehabilitation centre, a move to control the increase drug abuse cases within the region.

According to Dr. William Okedi National Coordinator, NACADA authority said the facility was going to offer treatment and rehabilitation services to persons with substance use disorders in the region.

Okedi revealed that the recent survey carried out by NACADA showed that people of aged between 15-64 years country wide had embarked on drugs abuse saying that the rehabilitation will curb the situation.

Okedi warned all the learning institutions near the alcohol zones to be closed as they influenced the underage people to engage in drinking saying this was a strategy to fight drug abusers to under age persons.

He however pointed out that there was only 48 rehabilitation centres country wide citing it was a big challenge to them in terms of service access and therefore thanked MTRH for having the facility.

He also disclosed that all rehabilitation centres will be registered under NACADA and all workers to be fully trained for proper service delivery at the centres.

He also said that the major challenges that faced NACADA against fighting drug abuse was alcohol and therefore said they were going to enforce Alcohol Drinks Act 2010 to curb the menace.

“We have lost many of the youths due to alcohol as these zones are prone to HIV/AIDS and we shall not continue losing them”, lamented Okedi.

Okedi also said to achieve vision 2030 there was need of visionary youths and if the youths embark on alcohol then the country could not achieve it.

Shem Onchiri the Eldoret East District Officer 1 who represented district commissioner said they were going to liaise with NACADA to fight cases of drug abuse in the region.

He also said they were going to launch a major crack down to all entertainment zones which had not complied with NACADA regulation and therefore urged them to try and comply with the rules.

Meanwhile Okedi said they were going to work hand in hand with the learning institutions to improve on the curriculum which will cover the areas of drug abuses.

Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us to submit@in2eastafrica.net.