IPNEWS: One of the flourishing Club under the jurisdiction of the Lions Clubs of Liberia, Monrovia Providence Lions Club says it has embarked upon a vigorous anti-drugs campaign across Liberia, targeting forty thousand illicit drug users.
Dominic Hina, President Monrovia Providence Lions club, addressing members of the Liberian Senate, stated that as part of its community service work in caring for vulnerable people, has taken interest in the continued waves of illicit drug and drugs usage in the Liberian society and has embarked upon creating awareness on illicit drugs trafficking and drugs abuse and the dangers they pose to the economic and social viability of Liberia.
“Our being here today is also in support to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goals 3 and 17 (Good Health and Well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being for all at all ages; and to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse).” Mr. Dominic Hina stated.
The influential youth leader told members of the Senate that drug abuse significantly affect not only communities but the fabric of society and undermines development and democratic gains.
Dominic Hina: “Drug abuse is a significant problem that affects the communities and environment in which we all live. Drugs affect the brains and minds of people who use and abuse them and such people are incapable of thinking, behaving or doing things constructively even for their own good.”
“Our young people are the most vulnerable to drug abuse and its harmful effects. Drugs use and abuse make children drop out of school, become delinquents and criminals. Worst still, it makes them go insane in their prime or most often cause death. The misuse of drugs and narcotics affect every stratum in our society so much so that there is practically no home in Liberia currently that isn’t or wouldn’t be affected and if not put under control, it has the tendency to undermine our peace, stability, and socio-economic development. It could also affect our nation’s social and human capital, education, health and wellbeing of our citizens.”
“People who abuse drugs or other narcotic substances are easily susceptible to debilitating or terminal illnesses that could adversely affect their development and productivity. It is presumed that people who use drugs are approximately over 75,000, a number we would like to confirm based on national government’s call, through the Ministry of Youths and Sports, to begin the process of reform for 40,000 ‘at-risk’ youths.”
SEE FULL TEXT OF Mr. Dominic HINA SPEECH TO THE LIBERIAN SENATE
Honorable Members of the Liberian Senate, an ailing population has the potential of stretching the national health facilities to a breaking point and impoverish its people thereby creating a medical emergency. Statistics show that many mental illnesses in Liberia are drug or substance abuse related. HIV/AIDs, Hepatitis B and other blood borne diseases are mostly spread by people who inject drugs. There are currently fears in medical circles that if they are not addressed adequately and promptly, the latter diseases could reach endemic proportion in Liberia.
Honorable Members of the Liberian Senat illicie:
We, the members of the Monrovia Providence Lions Club, a chartered club of the Lions Clubs of Liberia, along with members of other Lions Clubs, have come today, in service to our communities, to read an advocacy statement creating the awareness on illicit drugs trafficking and drugs abuse and the dangers they pose to the economic and social viability of our country. Our being here today is also in support to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goals 3 and 17 (Good Health and Well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being for all at all ages; and to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse).
Drug abuse is a significant problem that affects the communities and environment in which we all live. Drugs affect the brains and minds of people who use and abuse them and such people are incapable of thinking, behaving or doing things constructively even for their own good. Our young people are the most vulnerable to drug abuse and its harmful effects. Drugs use and abuse make children drop out of school, become delinquents and criminals. Worst still, it makes them go insane in their prime or most often cause death. The misuse of drugs and narcotics affect every stratum in our society so much so that there is practically no home in Liberia currently that isn’t or wouldn’t be affected and if not put under control, it has the tendency to undermine our peace, stability, and socio-economic development. It could also affect our nation’s social and human capital, education, health and wellbeing of our citizens.
People who abuse drugs or other narcotic substances are easily susceptible to debilitating or terminal illnesses that could adversely affect their development and productivity. It is presumed that people who use drugs are approximately over 75,000, a number we would like to confirm based on national government’s call, through the Ministry of Youths and Sports, to begin the process of reform for 40,000 ‘at-risk’ youths.
Honorable Members of the Liberian Senate, an ailing population has the potential of stretching the national health facilities to a breaking point and impoverish its people thereby creating a medical emergency. Statistics show that many mental illnesses in Liberia are drug or substance abuse related. HIV/AIDs, Hepatitis B and other blood borne diseases are mostly spread by people who inject drugs. There are currently fears in medical circles that if they are not addressed adequately and promptly, the latter diseases could reach endemic proportion in Liberia.
There are recent incidences that have occurred in communities around the country that should claim all our attention:
a. The incident that occurred in Duala where there was a gun shoot-out between forces of our Liberia National Police and drugs users that led to the loss of three lives, many injuries, damages to businesses and properties;
b. The incident that occurred in New Kru Town where there was a stampede after a religious crusade believed to have been orchestrated by drugs users causing the loss of over thirty lives (mostly women and children), many serious injuries and damages to properties;
c. The incident that occurred in Paynesville where a teenage boy was drugged, sodomized and had his tongue cut off allegedly by persons who use drugs;
d. The incident that occurred in Johnsonville where a young girl was drugged, raped, sodomized and later died, by an individual yet to be apprehended
e. The incident that occurred a Paynesville community where a 13-year-old boy was convinced by two of his friends to try drugs in an unfinished building, during which process the drug reacted and he lost consciousness. His friends out of fear fled the scene and that led to his untimely demise. After hours of searching, his lifeless body was found in this unfinished building by community dwellers and his two friends out of guilt came out and confessed to what actually happened;
f. The countless cases of rape, armed robberies, harassments of peaceful citizens mostly during evening hours, etc.
Our recommendation to the Honorable Liberian Senate stems out of the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU) report of 2018 on Liberia (page 114) where it is recorded that illicit drug trafficking and drug use are major issues in Liberia and concerted efforts must be made to tackle this menace by:
a. Improve collaboration among national stakeholders to reduce the drug demand and illicit supply in the country;
b. Drug treatment and rehabilitation centers must be established to care for those affected by drugs use; and
c. Existing drug rehabilitation centers must be equipped and supported in providing evidence-based drug treatment and rehabilitation services
We, members of the Monrovia Providence Lions Club and other Lions Clubs of Liberia, believe that the first step to accomplishing the above recommendations, hence our humble appeal to you Honorable Members of the Liberian Senate, is to pass on the amended drug law that is currently before you for concurrence and ensure that it is enforced through your oversight, when it is signed and printed into handbill.
Let’s see this as a National Emergency and protect the next generations or there just might not be a Future for the Future Leaders to Lead.
Where there is a need, there is a LION and now that we have come to do our today’s task, we pray that we do it greatly, knowing that Liberty and Intelligence will be Our Nation’s Safety.
We serve.
