Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, recently tasked new graduates of the International Centre for Credentialing and Education of Addiction Professional (ICCE) to utilise their acquired knowledge to curb drug addiction among Nigerian youths.The ICCE is a product of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the FNPHY and the United States of America Department of State-funded Colombo Plan Drugs Advisory Programme, DAP.
“LADAC would be very useful to Lagosians because it is taking the issue of drug abuse and drug usage to the grassroots. It is not just about getting emergency cases of drug abuse into hospitals; it is now going out to the people to try to prevent it before it gets to the hospitals.” Throwing light on the programme, Medical Director, FNPHY, Dr Oluyemi Ogun, explained that the MoU was signed in 2017 and that 95 healthcare professionals at different stages of the course have been trained.
“Also, 31 members of the Nigerian Prisons staff have been fully sponsored by the psychiatric hospital to build capacity in the field of addiction treatment, 70 professionals have been certified at different stages of the US credentialing examination in Nigeria in 2018 to become International Certified Addiction Professionals (ICAP I & II).” She said to combat drug abuse and addiction community mobilisation, environmental strategies and school-based prevention education intervention were key.
“The first two strategies involve the government working with the experts to formulate and enforce laws which include the ban on selling of alcohol or other substances of abuse to people under the age of 18 years; drug-free school environment; and incorporating dangers of the use of substances of abuse into the school curriculum. “This evidence-based approach of substance use prevention involves a multisectoral and interdisciplinary approach.
“There was the need for the hospital to collaborate with other sister agencies in this fight to save the future of this nation. “This is the reason we have called in other organisations like Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry Epe, Lagos, Wellspring Rehabilitation Center Isheri – Olowora Lagos, House of Joy Rehabilitation Center Lawanson, Surulere Lagos and Aruka Center Port Harcourt. “Other organisations we are collaborating with are Nigerian Prison services, and Trinity House to mention a few,” she added.
Source: Vanguard
