At least 72 victims of drug abuse from the Funtua Zone in Katsina State have been rehabilitated and empowered with skills by the Centre for the Advancement of Mother and Children (CEAMOC).
Arewa Trust Weekly gathered that those empowered were part of the 842 victims of drug abuse currently undergoing rehabilitation by the centre.
Chairman, Board of Trustees of the centre in Katsina, Justice Musa Danladi, while briefing pressmen in commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking said the centre is determined to rid the society of trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs.
Justice Danladi, who is the state’s Chief Judge, explained that the centre is in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on public sensitisation programmes to curtail the menace.
He said the centre has trained three people from each of the 11 LGAs in Funtua zone as community drug advisory and counselling workers.
“Our centre in Funtua is equipped with facilities, caregivers and psychologists to aid victims’ quick rehabilitation and provide counselling for them to easily reintegrate into the society and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic well-being of the society.
“To quicken the process of reducing the stigma associated with drug abuse, we are partnering with traditional rulers, teachers, community and religious leaders to help sensitise families, associates and friends of the victims to dissuade them from further abuse,” he said.
On her part, the founder of the centre and wife to the State Governor, Hajiya Hadiza Aminu Bello Masari, expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded adding that the centre will continue to widen its scope to other parts of the state.