Pubdate: Fri, 01 Jul 2016
Source: New Age, The (South Africa)
Copyright: 2016 TNA Media (Pty.)
Contact:  http://thenewage.co.za/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5339
Author: France Nyaka

R61.3M FOR DRUG CAMPAIGN

MEC Nomsa Mtsweni Joins March Against Substance Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

YOUNG people throughout the province have been urged to distance 
themselves from drugs as well as other illicit practices and become 
focused on education to achieve a better future.

The appeal was made by social development MEC Nomsa Mtsweni when she 
led the provincial government's participation in the international 
Day against Substance Abuse in Kwaggafontein this week.

The significance of the event was also to promote activities 
performed by local anti-drug action committees.

The event marked the scourge of substance abuse, especially to 
vulnerable children, people with disabilities and users recovering 
from substance abuse.

Mtsweni, together with executive mayors and police officers braved 
the cold and joined community members in a march against substance 
abuse and illicit trafficking.

"We are gathered here to intensify our fight against substance abuse 
during the commemoration of the international day against substance 
abuse and illicit trafficking, Mtsweni said. We are gathered here for 
one reason.

"We want to consolidate our power, strategies and resources to 
collectively destroy the Goliath of substance abuse which continues 
to rob young people of their future and good life, destabilise 
families and increase social ills such as gender-based violence, the 
spread of HIV-Aids and crime," Mtsweni said.

She said her department used its budget to implement programmes in 
the fight against drug abuse in the entire Nkangala district 
municipality encompassing towns that include KwaMhlanga, Emalahleni, 
Delmas, Middelburg, Belfast, Kwaggafontein and Siyabuswa.

"In his state of the province address, Premier David Mabuza committed 
the government to deal with these challenges head-on, focusing on 
prevention treatment and aftercare services.

"As the department, we have set aside R61.3m for the construction of 
phase one of the Nkangala Treatment Centre which will accommodate 150 
people for rehabilitation and treatment.

"As the ANC led-government, we have confidence in you, our young 
people and the rest of the people in Mpumalanga to tackle drug abuse," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom