By MICHAEL WESONGA AND FAITH RONOH
National Authority for Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) has partnered with the US State Department to formulate a new curriculum for training in drug abuse and addiction in tertiary institutions of learning.
Nacada CEO William OKedi said the decision has been advised by lack of training on addiction medicine at certificate, diploma and degree levels in the country in middle-level colleges and universities.
He noted that this had led to a shortfall by the institutions’ curriculum in addressing the challenges of addiction since they briefly touch on drugs and psychiatry and thus less comprehensive.
“To generally address alcohol and addiction in our country, we need to address the three key issues of medical assessment, social concerns, which are a major contributor, and the broader issue of nutrition,” he advised.
TRAINING CURRICULUM
Okedi said the agency was in discussions with the University of Nairobi and the Colombo Plan to convene meetings that will look at the mandate of the anti-narcotics agency and the needs of the country on the basis of establishing a curriculum for training.
The Colombo Plan is a regional organisation that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with a primary focus on human resources development.
He was speaking yesterday during a Nacada-sponsored media personnel training on drug abuse, prevention and control management.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago noted that responsibility of drug abuse and control squarely lied on the county government in the newly devolved structure.
“I pledge my support to Nacada in ensuring smooth transfer of functions and building of capacity to completely eradicate effects of alcohol and drug abuse in the region,” he said.
