Campaign to fight drug abuse starts in Nyandarua

By James Munyeki

Drug abuse and addiction has reached alarming levels as it is luring hundreds of youths in Central Province into an early grave, depleting the much needed human resource.

This has been complicated by the fact that many of the drugs among them illegal brews, are manufactured in the area.

It is estimated that at least one person dies every month in Nyandarua as a result of drug abuse according to police reports.

It is for this reason that a local organisation, Aids Reality Awareness Campaign and Drug Abuse Prevention and Sanitation (ARECA DAPS) has come up with a programme to rehabilitate the addicts in the region. It has also come up with a programme to create HIV/Aids awareness.

The organisation was started in 2001 by a group of 15 members. It has been going round the county creating awareness on drug abuse and HIV/Aids to eradicate the vice in the area.

“We have seen a lot of our youths dying as a result of drug abuse and we found it wise that as Kenyans, something must be done,” said Michael Munene who is one of the pioneers and also the Director.

He said that they contributed resources amongst themselves and  opened an office at Ndunyu Njeru where they would hold meetings.

“The office is also a rehabilitation centre for most of the addicts who converge here to get guidance and counseling,” he notes.

So far, about 40 youths have since gone through this programme and have now changed for the better.

“They used to come here even while drunk and at the same time wanted to get counseling. We took it upon ourselves to convince them to withdraw from drinking and  taking other drugs and they are now reformed,” he says.

Dr Munene observes that the organisation has started a programme of visiting those affected by HIV/Aids and offer counseling. He says that most of those affected die of lack of essential drugs as well as counseling.

“They feel neglected by the society and finally end up dying. That is why we have enrolled more members who engage in the programme to give then consolation. We also make arrangements with hospitals and dispensaries where we source Anti-Retro Viral drugs for them,” he notes.

Dr Munene observes that the organisation has been able to tap the attention of the youths through sports. He says they organise sporting activities and use the opportunity to educate them on the dangers of drug abuse.

“We have also started a project where the reformed drug abusers engage in garbage collection in towns for a fee. These always keep them busy,” he says.

But the major achievement, Dr Munene notes, is how they have managed to assist over 5,000 people to have them enrolled in the National Hospital Insurance Fund programme.

He says that the organisation is an NHIF agent where residents pay their monthly fee instead of traveling to Nyahururu or Naivasha where the NHIF offices are.

“People spend most of their money travelling to pay the fees so we thought it wise to consult NHIF and we became their agents. To date, we have seen people streaming to our offices to register and we also advise them on its benefits,” he notes.

But the major challenges that Dr Munene notes is lack of resources.

He says that though the organisation has employed some staff who go to offer counseling and register people on NHIF programme, the funds are never enough and most of them do it on voluntarily.

He welcomes any well wisher who would like to join hands with them and empower the youths in the area as well as eradicating drug abuse.