×
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
  • Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
  • The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
  • P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
  • Email: [email protected]

Sh60m for establishment of rehabilitation centers at the coast for heroin addicts

Health & Science

The government plans to spend at least Sh60 million for establishing emergency treatment and rehabilitation centers in the Coast region for heroin addicts in the next ten days.

Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health Dr. Nicholas Muraguri said yesterday that three centres, costing Sh20 million each, will be established as an emergency response to the heroin crisis in the region.

He said the centres will be established in Coast General Hospital, Kisauni Health Centre, Kamboni in Kwale County to assist in treating the high number of heroin addicts.

Dr Muraguri said that the new centres will use Medically Assisted Therapy that deploys methadone, a substance which has been proven at minimizing withdrawal symptoms among drug users, reducing drug craving and blocking the euphoric effects of other drugs. This is expected to enhance rapid recovery of the addicts.

Drug addicts who are treated with Methadone recover within a week on average but have to continue using the treatment for some time until they get off the drug addiction.

"It is expected that these efforts will contribute to the long-term recovery for thousands of Kenyans who have for years been chained by illicit drug use in the Coast region," he said.

He added: “The centers will supplement those established in Mathare Hospital in Nairobi and also in Malindi to treat and rehabilitate drug users."

Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered that medical care and support be provided for addicts of hard drugs in the coastal region of the country.

The government has also promised to establish 9 detoxification day care centres in Coast General hospital, Mvita Health Center, Port Reitz Hospital, Shika Adabu, Mtongwe Health Centres.

Others will be at Bamburi Dispensary and MEWA Rehabilitation centre and the National Youth Service Centre in Miritini

Dr. Muraguri said that as the crackdown on heroin continues and its supply is cut off in the Coast region, many users will begin having withdrawal symptoms

To supplement three rehab centres, other mobile ones will be established to target drug users in Kwale, Lamu and Kilifi, while more health workers will be trained to run those centres.

An emergency line will also be established to provide information such as referring families of drug addicts where they can get treatment services.

An estimated 18,327 people in Kenya are currently injecting drugs in their bodies, 92% of whom are addicted to heroin. The coast region has the highest burden of drug use, harbouring almost half of all people who are addicted to drugs

Many studies indicate that heroin dependence results in significant costs to society due to unemployment, homelessness, family disruption, loss of economic productivity, social instability and criminal activities

Dr Muraguri said that the main heroin rehabilitation centre in Mathare Hospital in Nairobi may not be easily accessible to many drug users in the Coast region due to long distance.

Currently, the center in Mathare is handling 500 heroin addicts, while in Malindi 145 are being treated.

Related Topics


.

Trending Now

.

Popular this week