The Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide anti-drug awareness campaign to prevent drug, and substance abuse.
The exercise, which began in Montserrado County, will go nationwide.
The initiative forms part of government’s five-year National Anti-Drug Action Plan, with a focus on schools, and communities where young people are being targeted with awareness, and prevention messages.
The campaign seeks to educate young people about the dangers, and harmful effects associated with drug, and substance abuse, and encourage them to make informed decisions.
The program is implemented with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
It also emphasized engagement, and empowerment of young people to resist pressures, and temptations associated with drug use.
Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs, Daniel O. Sando, made the disclosure on Tuesday, September 22, at a press briefing in Monrovia.
Sando said, the campaign is to strengthen public awareness, and prevention efforts by taking anti-drug messages directly to communities, and educational institutions.
For that, MoH has also commenced a 10-day training program for health service supervisors, and community health assistants to strengthen community-level responses to drug, and substance abuse.
The training brought together health workers from Bomi, Montserrado, Nimba, Sinoe, Maryland, Bong, Lofa, Margibi, River Gee, and Grand Kru counties.
MoH developed the course, which is supported by the United States Government, the Global Fund, UNICEF, Catholic Relief Services, and Last Mile Health.
Government says, the combined awareness campaign, and health-worker training, are to strengthen prevention, community engagement, and access to essential information, particularly among young people, who remain a key target of the national anti-drug initiative.
