By Ajibola Adedoye
Dr. Nonye Soludo, wife of the Anambra State Governor, has prompted youths in the state to duck medicine use for the sake of their particular health, future and the society at large.
She gave the charge while flaging off Operation Clean Anambra of Substance Abuse campaign in Awka, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
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According to her, medicine abuse has redounded in increased violence and crimes, advanced frequence in Hepatitis B and C contagion, HIV/AIDS, and collapse in the social structure.
“Our homes are losing the sacredness of culture and moral traditions.
“Our communities have become havens for medicine hawkers and manufacturers who use the element of fear and intimidation to silence the people who are willing to help original authorities with valid information.
“Healthy Living Initiatives is backing this fight in schools and communities to break the wall of lawless medicines frugality which is roaring at the detriment of our society.
“We’ve constituted Healthy Living Overwatch in the 179 communities to cover lawless medicine dealers and report same to security agencies.
“The target is to make everyone a driver of result to rid Anambra state of this deadly complaint called medicine abuse and save the lives and future of our children” Soludo said.
Mr Daniel Onyishi, Anambra State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said that one out of every four user of lawless medicines is a woman.
Onyishi said that the agency is working with Governor’s wife to address the growing medicine abuse cases in Anambra.
“According to recent statistics, Nigeria alone has 14.4 percent medicine abuse frequence rate and it was projected that by 2030 it’ll rise to 40 percent if nothing is done.
“The major concern is that women, especially youthful girl are embracing substance abuse. One out of every four medicine abuser is a women and one out of five will suffer substance abuse complaint.
“Women are crucial nurturers, moulders and caregivers in the society and shouldn’t be involved in lawless medicine abuse,” he said.
The NDLEA Commander prompted community leaders to support the Agency with information about medicine dealers in their terrain.
In his reflections, Mr Titus Akpudo, President-General, Anambra State Association of Town Union, promised to take the communication against substance abuse to the nooks and crannies of the state.
“As Community Leaders, we must support the Governor’s wife in the fight to exclude substance abuse in our communities because if we don’t act now, it’ll hunt us in future,” he stressed.
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