SKSG fights alcohol and drug abuse

Faith Siako | Friday January 22, 2016 15:17

The monitoring and educational officer for SKSG, Otima Manyeme revealed this week that they want to eliminate alcohol abuse in Selebi-Phikwe and surrounding areas by 2018.

She said this at a consultative meeting with stakeholders, which was held at the district coordinator’s office.

Manyeme said that SKSG intends to employ two strategies to achieve its mandate, which includes the preventive and rehabilitative behavioural change and the biomedical interventions to help fight alcohol abuse and stop those who don’t abuse alcohol from doing so.

She noted that the programme mainly targets out-of-school youth aged between 14 to 18 years old. Manyeme said that the youth are the most vulnerable group that is mostly affected by alcohol abuse because at their age, they are considered to be active and adventurous.

“Both the in and out-of-school youth are at a high risk of becoming alcoholics as they are already hooked to alcohol and drugs therefore they need to be assisted before they become addicts,” she said. She said that they would engage teachers to identify the students who use alcohol and drugs, and once that child is identified they would be rehabilitated.

“ The youth will be given awareness on the risks linked to alcohol and drug abuse and their link to their health, social and economic lives,” she said.

Manyeme stated that the project intends to address all secondary schools in Selebi-Phikwe, Palapye, Bobonong, Mmadinare and youth in Tobane village. She said that by 2018 they expect to have withdrawn 1,200 students from alcohol and drugs per annum, while for the out-of-school youth they would provide anti- substance abuse forums to ensure that there is a free substance abuse environment.

“Some of the strategies to be used would include support approach, camping excursion to provide a conducive environment as they go through rehabilitation, group discussions, and workplace interventions,” she said.

Manyeme mentioned that the rehabilitation would be provided by the Selebi-Phikwe psychiatric clinic.

She further said that SKSG strives to contribute to the reduction of health impact especially on the spread of HIV/ AIDS because alcohol is one of the main factors that lead to the spread of HIV/ AIDS.

The Guidance and Counseling teacher at Lebogang Community Junior Secondary School, Tidimalo Selome applauded SKSG for their good initiatives to help address drugs and alcohol abuse at schools.

“We are usually concerned about students who smoke dagga and drink alcohol that lead to low performance hence I hope your (SKSG) input would help teachers deal with such students,” he said. The District Health Management Team (DHMT), principal health education technician Masego Makolo, also appreciated SKSG. She said that they would help assist reduce the high spread of HIV/ AIDS in Selebi-Phikwe.