BY CHUKWEMEKA OHIZU / UMUAHIA
The Abia State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Dogo Aboki Yusuf has pleaded with the residents and the people of the state to support the agency in the move to put an end to stigmatisation and discrimination of victims of drug abuse.
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Yusuf said that stigmatisation against the affected people over the years has become a barrier that prevents those suffering from drug abuse from seeking help, stressing that they are humans with inherent dignity, deserving of understanding, empathy and support and needs such to foster an environment where they feel safe, respected, and encouraged to access the necessary treatments.
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Speaking in Aba during the commemoration of the 2023 International Day Against Substance Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking with the theme “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention,” Yusuf called on Abia people to prioritize individuals affected by drug abuse, urging them to see his call as a call to social action.
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The Abia Commander who noted that his message is the same as the one by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen. Buba Marwa narrowed the message down to Abia State urging the residents to see the need to place humans at the centre of all efforts to address drug-related challenges and promote a more compassionate and inclusive approach.
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Yusuf said that from all the awareness done in Abia during the commemoration, one message all residents must not forget is that by focusing on “people first,” they recognise that individuals struggling with drug abuse are not defined solely by their addiction.
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The Commander urged Abia people to stand firm and break down the stigmatization barriers that prevent victims from seeking help, stressing that such prejudices hinder their access to healthcare and that by promoting acceptance, everyone can challenge these harmful stereotypes and foster a society that embraces individuals on their path to recovery.
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He lamented that a whole lot of people are standing on the cure at the NDLEA rehabilitation centre in Aba waiting for admission because space is not enough, which is a prove that drug abuse is very high in Abia State, hence the need to abhor stigmatization and help those who are already in trouble to find their ways back to normal life.
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Yusuf said that despite the move on stopping stigmatisation, the NDLEA will not relent in its efforts to ramp up preventive measures, stressing that it is for that purpose that it launched the War against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative in 2021.
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According to Yusuf, WADA is a crucial tool that facilitates the implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2021-25 which is targeted at three groups: those who have not started using drugs, especially young people; those who are using drugs but have not started manifesting any physical symptoms; and those who are having problems as a result of drug use.
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He said that in terms of prosecution and conviction, the Abia State Command has been very successful, but stressed that they face serious challenges on logistics, especially in the areas of vehicles.
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He called for assistance in the areas of logistics, stressing that the drug war is a community base war as such they need sound vehicles on the ground to help the command move to all the necessary places especially flashpoints for arrests and to some other necessary places that need different kind of interventions.
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Our correspondent reports that the commemoration of the 2023 International Day Against Substance Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Abia State involved street awareness by the officers of NDLEA, None-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Civil Society Organizations (CLOs), students from different Secondary Schools in Aba and the members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Leaders of Pharmaceutical Council, the leaders of patent medicine dealers and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
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The event equally was made entertaining by demonstrations from the NYSC members, the different Secondary Schools represented with musical competitions, drama and so many other educating activities that focused on the theme “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.”
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