Drug Abuse: Health Ministry, RAN Partner On Prevention, Treatment

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has declared its readiness to work with Re-Orientation Advocacy of Nigeria (RAN) and other stakeholders to strengthen prevention programmes on drug abuse and treatment.

The ministry said the partnership would target specifically people with drug use disorders.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare Dr. Ali Pate made this known at a partnership meeting with the Re-Orientation Advocacy of Nigeria (RAN) in Abuja

RAN team led by Mr Charles Folayan, RAN Executive Director visited the ministry to appreciate their support for the stakeholders engagement on drug prevention, treatment and care held in December 2023.

Folayan equally commended the ministry for its representation in the Joint Task team constituted at the programme.

Folayan said drug and substance abuse predisposes the youth and women to armed robbery, vandalism, sexual assault, insurgency, banditry, domestic abuse and violence, HIV and AIDS, accidents among others.

He said the greatest concern is that no country could make any significant progress or development with over 40 per cent of her young population including women engaged in drug abuse.

This according to him is with the rate twice the global average of 5.3 per cent.

Folayan said that RAN partnership with various stakeholders was to forge a common purpose and allow easy flow of work in line with each organisation’s mandate and in conformity.

This according to him is on the heels of the strategic objectives of the National Drug Control Master Plan 202–2025 and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Act

He said the goals of the programme would enhance the implementation and success of the Health Sector Renewal Initiative as announced by President Bola Tinubu, State Governors, and other stakeholders on December,12 2023.

This he said was aimed at putting in place the National Health System as envisioned by the National Health Act.

In her speech, the Parmanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms Kachollom Daju who represented the Minister expressed the readiness of the Ministry to play major part in addressing the issue of drug abuse.

This he said would be targeted among the youth, women and adolescent in Nigeria in line with the renewed hope agenda of Tinubu’s administration.

She said concern had been raised from many quarters on the rise of drug and substance abuse among youth and women in the northern and southern part of Nigeria, saying the steps of RAN on this issue is timely and sacrosanct.

She commended the efforts of relevant government and non governmental organisations working on addressing the issues, she maintained that all hands must be on deck to bring the situation under control.

Also at the meeting was the President and Founder of Annmom Foundation United State of America Princess Ann Ehigiator.