Stakeholders Laud HLAPI’s Two Years Advocacy Programme For Drug Users In FCT

Stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse have commended A Drug – User Focused Organization, Healthy Life Advancement Promotion Initiative, HLAPI, for its two years advocacy intervention programme for drug users in Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

The two years project which started in September, 2022 ended in September, 2024 is known as the Advocacy On Drug Users Rights and Matters, ADURM and was funded by ISDAO and Love Alliance.

The programme was among other things focused on carrying out advocacy to stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse towards improving their attitude and mindset towards drug users and work towards better treatment to those who use drugs as well as reduction in stigma, discrimination and criminalization of drug users.

Some Drug Users and Beneficiaries of the two years programme, Kabir Abdullahi, Abubakar Yussuf, John Ibe and Emeka Kingsley who are based in Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory while sharing their experiences said they went into drugs due to influence from friends and peer groups.

According to them, the sensitization and advocacy programme of HLAPI in their areas was a saving grace for them as they turned a new leaf after listening to the Organization in our of its forum which centered on care and love for drug users.

While commending HLAPI for its intervention to them, they stressed the need for more programmes that would make the youths more responsible citizens of Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Waziri of Gwagwalada Kingdom in the FCT, Alhaji Bala Madaki who also commended HLAPI for the sensitization and advocacy programme advised traditional and community leaders to spread the message of love and care for drug users in their communities

He said this would go a long way to reduce decriminalization against drug users in the country.

On his part, a Stakeholder and Medical Practitioner, Orla Michael said drug users are not sick or mad but they are just affected by the drug hence the need to care and show them love.

“Creating awareness to health workers, general public to view them as normal individual is very important to avoid discouraging them from accessing necessary healthcare services because anyone can be a victim of drug use and we should avoid calling them drug addict and tagging them negatively and by the time they’re seeing as those who are victims of drug abuse, we can now have opportunity of rendering necessary healthcare service to them for their improved wellbeing” He stated.

On her part, the Programme Officer of Healthy Life Advancement Promotion Initiative, HLAPI, Mrs Grace Okoye said the two years project has enable drug users in Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils of the FCT to overcome their health challenges of drugs usage and abuse.

“The two years project enable us to provide non discriminatory health and social services for people who use drugs and our focus area was Gwagwalada and Bwari and in these areas we carried out sensitization and training services for them most especially at the local level because we have different Community members as liaison officers on their challenges” Mrs Okoye stated.

She explained that HLAPI was able to helped them to know that one of the ways they can stop the use of drugs is by starting from reducing the quantities and see how they can stop coming down until they finally put an end to drug intake.