Bulawayo is training an army of counselors to fight a drug abuse crisis. The metropolitan province plans to instruct over four hundred people in specialized intervention skills, targeting church leaders, parents, and teachers as a first line of defense. Provincial Affairs Permanent Secretary Paul Nyoni explained the strategy, which responds to the government's declaration of drug abuse as a national disaster. The program will launch with an initial group of twenty trainees this month, focusing on counseling for substance abuse cases.
Training will extend beyond religious groups to include police officers, health workers, and educators, forming a community-wide early warning system. The initiative involves designed courses from local institutions like Bulawayo Polytechnic and Zimbabwe Open University. This effort complements existing treatment facilities, including a dedicated ward at Ingutsheni Central Hospital, though officials note challenges with long-term recovery and relapse cycles.
The province is also refurbishing a drop-in center in Emakhandeni to support outpatient care, aiming for early intervention before hospital admission becomes necessary. Alongside these health measures, authorities continue supply reduction efforts, highlighting recent arrests and convictions. The overarching goal is to build a coordinated network that encourages community reporting, provides immediate psycho social support, and prevents new cases through sustained awareness campaigns.
Training will extend beyond religious groups to include police officers, health workers, and educators, forming a community-wide early warning system. The initiative involves designed courses from local institutions like Bulawayo Polytechnic and Zimbabwe Open University. This effort complements existing treatment facilities, including a dedicated ward at Ingutsheni Central Hospital, though officials note challenges with long-term recovery and relapse cycles.
The province is also refurbishing a drop-in center in Emakhandeni to support outpatient care, aiming for early intervention before hospital admission becomes necessary. Alongside these health measures, authorities continue supply reduction efforts, highlighting recent arrests and convictions. The overarching goal is to build a coordinated network that encourages community reporting, provides immediate psycho social support, and prevents new cases through sustained awareness campaigns.
