To observe the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illegal Substances, the Social Welfare Society of the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) on Wednesday 26th June 2024 organized a seminar at the Great Hall of the Goderich Campus in Freetown on the theme, ‘Invest in Prevention.’
The chairman of the program, Mr. Papa Njai, Head of Short Courses and External Relations, MMTU revealed that drug abuse is a topical issue not only in Sierra Leone but worldwide, that Sierra Leone cannot develop while losing its youthful population for which the issue is a national concern and appealed to all to do more soul searching to find solutions to the drug menace underscoring that as a Technical University, they must solve societal problems.
In his keynote address, the Executive Director of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Andrew Jai Kai Kai said that the institution’s 5-years strategic masterplan, the only one in the sub-region, is to address drug abuse and trafficking, that the agency was established in 2014, that education is the most powerful weapon to change the world and that educating citizens about the dangers of synthetic drugs is paramount.
Other areas he highlighted covered by the masterplan include capacity building, drug demand reduction and reintegration, prevention through education and awareness campaigns, comprehensive rehabilitation services, law enforcement, research and monitoring and evaluation. Habib T. Kamara, Executive Director of the Social Linkages for Youth Development and Child Link (SLTDCL), in his overview of the program, articulated that organized crime is complex, that the Drug Policy must be rooted in science, that together we can create a world free from drugs and harmful substances and reiterated the need to invest in prevention.
He also highlighted the need to cut the supply route, that students are changed agents and therefore must disseminate the message on drug and substance abuse to their colleagues and communities, observed that there is no passion to end ‘kush’ abuse like was the case with the Ebola and Corona outbreaks respectively and noted that Sierra Leone is losing its potential youths to drugs.
According to Habib T. Kamara, if the trend of drug and substance abuse continues, by 2030 Sierra Leone would not attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Mrs. Marie Benjamin, Executive Director of the Society for Women and Aids in Africa- Sierra Leone Chapter disclosed that her organisation works with key populations like sex workers, homosexuals and drug addicts to access services in addition to providing HIV prevention to clients noting that if one person is infected in a community all are considered infected until they are tested and proved negative and called on or all stakeholders to mobilize and help victims of drug and substance abuse.
The Representative of FORUT-Sierra Leone revealed that synthetic drugs cause more harm to women than men, that the latest report launched by the United Nations Office on Drug Abuse states that drug addicts are stigmatized and discriminated and recommended among others that women must take the lead in community engagements, that treatment centers must be gender-friendly and that empowerment projects must be women-focus.
Mr. Emerson Kamara of the National Youth Commission informed that they have organized several town hall meetings to know the true causes of drug and substance abuse and that the Ministry of Youths on 25th June this year launched the Status of Youth Report to among others know the dangers of ‘kush’.
Earlier in his welcome statement, the Deputy Vice Principal and Director of Studies, MMTU, Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh on behalf of the University Court, administration, staff and students welcomed all to the ceremony to engage in a subject that is pertinent and timely that has also been declared by the President as a national emergency.
He further stated that Sierra Leone has had its own fair share of national emergencies like the landslide, Ebola and Corona outbreaks and commended all the experts for their insights into the various topics.
Other dignitaries who made statements included Mr. Mohamed Tagabay, Director of Mental Health and Psychology, Ministry of Social Welfare and Mr. Unisa Alim Sesay of the National Council for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency.
Highlights of the event were testimonies from two former drug addicts one of whom is now a student at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
