*Establishes Drop-in Centres
By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
Under the visionary leadership of Governor Uba Sani, Kaduna State continues to set the pace in adopting progressive approaches to address the critical issues of substance abuse and mental health.
With the establishment of Drop-in Centres (DICs), Kaduna becomes the first state in Nigeria to successfully integrate Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services into the primary health care level, aligning with the National Drug Control MasterPlan and the National MhGap Intervention Plan.
It would be recalled that last year, Governor Uba Sani shared his commitment to having 100 Primary Health Care (PHC) based Drop-In Centers as part of Kaduna State’s comprehensive action plan during a meeting with the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Speaking about this development, the Director General of KADBUSA, Joseph O. Ike, revealed that these Drop-In Centers are the result of close collaboration not only among various state government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) but also with local government councils, private entities, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
At the commissioning ceremony, Hon Mukhtar Baloni, Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government Council, highlighted the upcoming establishment of several more DICs within the Local Government. Additionally, the Local Government is renovating a facility to be used by KADBUSA as a secondary care facility accessible to residents.
Tamar Nandul, Managing Director of Kaduna Markets Development Company, emphasised the company’s role as stakeholders in addressing drug use issues, given the daily challenges faced in Kaduna markets. Dr Aisha Sadiq, representing the Commissioner of Health, noted the significance of the DICs in providing tangible assistance to young people struggling with substance abuse.
The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board expressed enthusiasm about their partnership with KADBUSA, recognising its potential to enhance the delivery of its core mandates for the benefit of Kaduna State residents.
Professor Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u, Managing Director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Barnawa Kaduna, extended congratulations to the Kaduna State Government and the Director General of KADBUSA. She emphasised the urgent need for additional centres, acknowledging the significant progress in decentralising and improving access to Mental Health Services.
Establishing these DICs represents a landmark achievement in Kaduna State’s commitment to addressing Substance Abuse and Mental Health challenges, fostering a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders for the well-being of its citizens.
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