NGO advocate for inclusion of drugs abuse in education curriculum to mitigate the menace ravaging the society.

NGO advocate for inclusion of drugs abuse in education curriculum to mitigate the menace ravaging the society.

A Non Governmental Organization under the auspices of Zishiya Empowerment Foundation has call on Government at all levels to as a matter of fact and urgency to  on the need to include drugs abuse in education curriculum in other to mitigate it's menace that is ravaging the society.

The call was made by the Executive Director of the Zishiya Empowerment Foundation, Mrs. Adama Violet  Kaburuk stated that the need for Government at all level to put in  mechanism in place that will constantly be checkmating drug abuse among students right from Primary to Tertiary institutions of learning.

Mrs Kauruk recently spoke at Saura Events Centre in Jos, the Plateau State capital during an official opening of a four days workshop organize by her NGO in collaboration with the Plateau State Local Government Service Commission for all social workers of the 17 Local Government Areas of the State.

The workshop which has the theme" Management of Substance Abuse in Workplace: Challenges and Prospects".

Kaburuk  in a  brief media chat with a select Media Executives said:" the more we do that,the better for us because our core value system which is depreciating daily.

"Therefore, there is an urgent need to make deliberate efforts by educating our wards to understand the dangers behind such illicit drugs and desist from them".

According to her, the workshop is timely and key which is aimed to de-escalate the escalation of illicit substances in the Government parastatals and inject new ideas in the workforce for effective service delivery.

Speaking at the workshop, Nurse Kizito Ndak who was a Guest Speaker stated that a lot of social vices happening in the society today such as; thuggery, cultism, inordinate ambition, sexual abuse and examination malpractice which is common among Nigerian youths is as a result of drugs abuse.

Ndak revealed that nationally about 14.4% of Nigerians between the ages of 15-65 years abuse illicit drugs and nearly 40% are at high risk.

He said in Plateau and Jos in particular,multiple substance abuse was 81% while the multiple drugs abuse was significantly associated with younger age group. The mean age of onset of abuse is 12-17 years.

The speaker acknowledged that" as a social workers it is your duty and responsibility to be equipped with knowledge and enlighten people properly on the dangers ahead as far as drugs abuse is concerned".

Other resource persons to take the participants on a wide range of topics on management of drug abuse and hard substances are Dr. Patience Oche of the Department of Family Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Susan A. Peter of the Centre for Conflict Management & Peace Studies, University of Jos and Prof. Moses D. Audu, a Consultant Psychiatrist and Director Quintessential Healthcare Centre Jos.

Participants were drawn from the Health and Social Service Departments of the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

The Participants lauded the Foundation and government for the training and promise to put what they are being taught to proper use for the benefit of the society.

90 Participants attended the training workshop.

The workshop was declared opened by the Executive Chairman of the Plateau State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Barr Andrew Robert Taple JP,represented by the Commissioner 1 of the LGSC, Hon D.D.Danzos.He was accompanied by Miskoom Henry Lankwap, the Permanent Secretary of the LGSC, the Director of Administration, the Director of Training, the Director of Finance and Supplies, the Deputy Director of Administration,and others.