Drug addicts get treatment sponsorship

By LINAH BENYAWA

Mombasa County

The war against drugs at the Coast received a major boost as some 15 addicts were sponsored to undergo rehabilitation as a cost of Sh900,000.

The Sharrif Nassir Foundation has partnered with Reach Out Centre Trust to treat the 15 addicts.

The chairman, Abdulswamad Nassir, said the foundation was working closely with the rehabilitation centre to treat the addicts, some of whom had turned to zombies.

"We have partnered with the centre to help treat the addicts, we want to put them in a full rehabilitation programme that has cost Sh900, 000," said Nassir.

He argued that the rehabilitation programme done by the Government was insufficient to fully treat the addicts. Nassir further asked the Government to partner with private rehabilitation centres.

"I appreciate Government efforts to treat the addicts, but the outpatient programme cannot guarantee success. That is why I am asking the Government to support the few private rehabilitation centres to enable them treat the addicts," he added.

And Reach Out Centre Co-ordinator, Taib Abdulrahaman, challenged addicts to come out of hiding and seek treatment.

He also challenged the 15 to be a good example to their colleagues by completing the full six-month programme.

"I want to challenge the addicts to take seriously the rehabilitation programme by ensuring that they complete the required period of six months," he said.

At the same time, police in Mombasa have closed all the dens where drug addicts meet.

Laid ambush

Local AP Commandant, Hussein Mohammed, said they laid an ambush and cleared everything in different dens in Shimanzi and around Fort Jesus.

He said seven of the addicts found in the dens accepted to be taken to the Coast Provincial General Hospital for treatment, while about 80 refused, but were forced out of the dens.

"We decided to lay an ambush in different dens where we were told the addicts meet. We met more than 80 addicts but only seven agreed to be taken for treatment," said Mohammed.

He added that they had intensified security in the area by deploying officers who would be manning the dens day and night.