Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
As part of sustained efforts to combat Zimbabwe’s escalating drug and substance abuse crisis, the Harare Metropolitan Province is establishing fully functional rehabilitation centres with some of the facilities expected to be fully operational before the end of the year.
Harare Metropolitan Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Senator Charles Tawengwa was this Tuesday accompanied by Provincial Drug and Substance Abuse Committee members on a progress assessment tour of identified rehabilitation centres.
The team visited Beatrice Road Infectious Disease Hospital’s Tendai Ward, Matapi Community Hall, Tsiga Grounds, Highfield Community Hall, and Kambuzuma Hall to evaluate progress in terms of renovations and readiness of the facilities to provide rehabilitation services.
“We are now in Matapi, Mbari, right in the middle of Mbare. What we have seen so far in terms of the Wilkins Centre, is that one, yes, we do accept just a few interventions here and there. This one, we are right in the middle of Mbare and we have a problem in Mbare in terms of drug and substance abuse as you can see with a few touch-ups and some renovations we can rehabilitate it. We also need to provide the various needs in terms of WASH, but there is need for injection of funds into it. Hence the need to source and raise funds so that we have people accommodated here within the next two, three months,” he said.
Acting Mental Health Officer for Harare Metropolitan Province, Mrs Betty Zeffaniah outlined the progress made so far.
“Plans are already underway to ensure some of these rehabilitation centres open their doors before the end of this year. We have already made some arrangements to say how are we going to get the staff that is going to be seconded to the facilities. We are going to have engagements with the central hospitals as well as the local authorities so that we can have staff that will then manage this facility And in terms of. Other resources such as medicines and other resources such as food supplies as the ministry and as the government, we are also making an effort to support the facilities that we are targeting to open,” she said.
Residents of Mbare, where two of the centres are located, are equally expectant.
“We are grateful for the government’s efforts to address drug abuse in our community. These rehabilitation centres will bring hope to many families,” said a resident.
“We are praying these centres are set up faster so that the youths in this area can be assisted because a lot of them are now addicted,” noted another.
The establishment of rehabilitation centres in Harare is in line with the Zimbabwe Multi-sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan, which was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa this year as the country takes a proactive approach to address the menace of drug abuse.
