Gombe treatment care centre, under-utilized – NDLEA laments
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
As the rate of drug and substance abuse increases the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has lamented under usage it treatment and care centre in Gombe.
Speaking on Friday, at the commemoration of International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking; with the theme ‘Share Facts About Drug, Save Lives’, State Commander, Ekaete Egwunwoke called on government and relevant stakeholders to ensure the facility is adequately put to use.
Periscope Nigeria gathered that between June 2020 to 2021, the command has counselled and rehabilitated 70 clients; with 66 males and 4 others as females.
She said, “A total of 408.655kg of various illicit drugs seized. 70 clients were counselled and rehabilitated. They comprised of 66 male and 4 female.
“It is important to remind the general public that NDLEA has a treatment and Care centre in Gombe but the facility is grossly under-utilized. I therefore call upon the state government and the good people of Gombe State as well as civil society organizations to ensure that the facility is adequately put into use.
“Just seek help enough of staying withdrawn in the house. There is a need to seek help because the NDLEA is ready to assist. We talk of drug dependent persons. You also know the those prevalent to drug is the youth, we can’t fold our arms.
“We need some partnership from medical personnel for our treatment and care centre, as you know issues of people being dependent on drug is more of a medical issue and for us to treat and properly rehabilitate we need the medical people to partner with us. We have need for ambulance to hastily refer issues.”
While bemoaning the challenges inherent in effectively running the care and treatment centre, the commander urged for more support in discharging the role of treating and rehabilitating clients.
“When you are taking these clients who feeds them, how do you get to feed them. If international partners can make the drug war a success.
“I think the NDLEA does not have the capacity to feed all the clients that come so we need the government, and public spirited individuals to come together. We may not even be talking about the money but they can bring food stuffs,” Egwunwoke added.
Commenting on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), report on drug prevalence, she stressed that drug control is challenging, adding that more awareness would be required.
Egwunwoke said, “When you say 14 percent you are not just looking at the 14 percent if we are about 200,000,000 people the 14 percent of it quite a large number. So it gives one sleepless night to realize that a greater percentage are youths. So every hand needs to be on deck by looking out for interventions.
“For the youths who have access to these drugs what can they be given in exchange, as a government such as skills. Some have dropped out of school, so the need to sensitise them, through awareness campaign to ensure that others do not take drugs. It is alarming, we need everyone to come on board.”
