NGO Takes RAW Campaign Against Drugs To Secondary Schools In Kaduna

A Non-Governmental Organization, Life Challenge Intervention Outreach has carried its campaign against drug abuse to secondary schools in Kaduna State.

Tagged Rescue And Wellness (RAW) campaign, it is aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of drug use among youths by providing accurate information about drug use and it’s risks, and opposing discrimination against drug users.

Founder of the organization, Pastor Ogueji Ejikeme McBishops, who spoke to THE WHISTLER, said the campaign was targeted at schools in high risk areas of the state capital.

“We are starting this campaign from secondary schools where youths are more vulnerable to peer influence. The objectives are to provide accurate information on drugs and substances of abuse and provide harm reduction information,” he stated.

He also revealed that the organization is in partnership with other Non-Governmental Organizations, health and government agencies, to provide access to support, empowerment, treatment and confidential counselling programmes.

“The campaign is starting with secondary schools, which has seen us visit over 10 schools in high risk areas such as Angwan Mgbede in Barnawa, Angwan Romi, Narayi and Sabon Tasha in Kaduna. Presently we have expanded our activities to the users in communities around Sabon Tasha. Sabon Tasha has many high- risk areas but prominent among them are Kantiaga and Black Street. These two places are famous for substance abuse in Northern Nigeria,” he said.

Ejikeme said he decided to reach out to other high- risk areas because lives were being destroyed by drug abuse and prevalence has led to rise in crimes and violence, and low quality of life.

He said risky sexual behavious among youths as a result of prevalence of drug abuse has led to spread of communicable diseases such as HIV, hepatitis A and B, stressing that his organization decided to intervene to save young talents from wasting away due to addiction.

Life Challenge Intervention Outreach has trained over 100 volunteers and worked with over 300 young people in the state.

It is working in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Kaduna and the U.S Embassy, to provide free Drug Abuse Prevention Training, Workshops and confidential support services.

According to Ejikeme, the organization is also working with its partners, the Kaduna State Ministry of Women Affairs and faith -based organizations to devise a workshop for parents and young people on drug and health education.