HLAPI Seeks Harm Reduction Among Victims Of Drug Abuse

A drug – user focused organization, Healthy Life Advancement Promotion Initiative, HLAPI, has called for harm reduction among victims of drug abuse in the society.

The Programme Officer of HLAPI, Mrs Grace Okoye made the call during a Harm Reduction Committee Advocacy Meeting organized by the Organization in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Mrs Okoye who said the Organization since 2016 had been intervening in the health challenges of drug users towards making them overcome drug usage and abuse, stated that HLAPI would also intensify efforts on its advocacy campaign for people who use drugs in the Federal Capital Territory.

She said the Advocacy Meeting was organized to brainstorm with key Stakeholders and relevant Private and Government Agencies such as the Police, NDLEA, NSCDC, Correctional Centres, Medical Practitioners and Traditional as well as Religious leaders towards proffering possible solutions on ways to reducing discrimination and harm among those who have challenges as a result of drug usage and abuse.

“We provide non discriminatory health and social services for people who use drugs and our focus area is Gwagwalada and Bwari and we carry out sensitization and training services for them most especially at the local level because we have different community members as liaison officers on their challenges”, she explained.

In her words : ” We’ve over the years build a relationship with drug users for them to know that there’s a set of people that care about their welfare which they can trust and open up to and we’ve been able to assist them in overcoming drug use and abuse”.

According to her, HLAPI has helped them to know that one of the ways they can stop the use of drugs is by reducing the quantity gradually until they finally put an end to drug intake through self rehabilitation.

The Programme Officer therefore called for the support of religious and traditional leaders as well as relevant government agencies and stakeholders in HLAPI activities in the fight against drug usage and abuse.

In a remark, the Waziri of Aguma Chiefdom in Gwagwalada , Bala Madaki, said the Chiefdom has also been engaging in sensitization campaigns in local languages against drug abuse in communities.

He promised the Chiefdom’s continuous support to HLAPI towards achieving its mandate.

While attributing most youth involvement in crimes to drug abuse, Bala Madaki called for more public-private sector collaboration in ending the menace in the country and advised youths in the area to stay out of drugs and always engage in positive ventures that would better their lives.

The Harm Reduction Committee Advocacy Meeting, which was attended by Representatives of NDLEA, Nigeria Police, Correctional Service, and other NGOs, called for more measures in reducing drug usage and abuse in the country.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji