Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo through her pet project Healthy Living With Nonye Soludo has launched a campaign against drug abuse in Anambra State with a strong plea to all stakeholders to work hard towards eliminating the menace in the society.
Titled “Operation Clean Anambra of Substance Abuse” in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and other relevant organisations like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the programme was attended by town union leaders, women groups, youth bodies including resource persons from the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.
Speaking during the launch, the Governor’s wife, Nonye Soludo described the menace of drug abuse as a pandemic of never seen imagination.
She said the issue steals from everyone while drug abuse has remained a perennial threat to homes and societies, consistently finding routes into every space of human habitation.
She said that as the First Lady of Anambra State, those sad realities worries her more so, as a mother who is desirous of fast and positive changes.
“Drug abuse prevalence is a threatening menace that seems to have been approached with kid-gloves techniques. We now have a new responsibility to tackle it head-on. It demands our collective efforts. But, most importantly, it calls for a mindset of change. A mindset that does not just think the problem but goes the extra mile to find its solution. It is what we all are here today to figure out the way forward. Our idea is that fighting drug abuse must be everybody’s affair. Government alone, with its limited resources, cannot win the war. All of us here must get actively involved in the fight to reclaim our homes and communities from the roaring monster.
“We must break down the walls of these illicit drug economies and criminal conglomerates and expose those who are running the lucrative criminal enterprises. Our homes are losing the sacredness of culture and moral traditions. It is now time to take the bull by the horn and approach the problem with the seriousness that it deserves.
“Today we are launching what would be known as “The Healthy Living Overwatch.” The Healthy Living Overwatch will play inter-dependent functions alongside local authorities like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade, security agencies, and, of course, our great partner, the World Health Organization (WHO). Other key partners include the Ministries of Health, Women and Social Welfare and Education. Our job description is to monitor and provide information about manufacturers and peddlers of illicit substances and assist government agencies in tracking drug-related cases in communities.
She said another key responsibility of the Overwatch will be to follow up on arrests and prosecutions to ensure that full justice is served while in the end, the ultimate target is to build mutual partnerships with different agencies and organizations to free the state from the deadly disease of drug abuse.
She appreciated the NDLEA, WHO, OCHA Brigade, and the Ministry of Health for opening their doors to the life-changing initiative and assured of an unwavering commitment to the success of the project.
“A few weeks ago, I visited one of the rehabilitation centres where our brothers and sisters who are dealing with mental health challenges are receiving care. It was a visit that opened my eyes to the realities of this monstrous problem called drug abuse. Watching our young, vibrant population held back and fighting for freedom from this avoidable danger brought tears to my eyes. That visit is one of the reasons we are here today.
“At Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, we have identified mental health as a key part of our education and social movement. We have included it among the six pillars of our programme to help our people understand its critical place in complete human wellbeing. It is where we stand to declare that drug abuse must be kicked out of Anambra State. As a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Ambassador, I’m approaching this task with every sense of commitment and passion. I’m dedicating my time and energy to this movement.” She said.
The state Commandant NDLEA, Daniel Onyishi in a presentation titled “The Role of Opinion Leaders in the fight against drug abuse in our communities” noted that drug abuse and addiction thrives in the communities because of culture of silence. He noted that if the supply chain is cut off in the communities, the level of intake and abuse will also reduce significantly.
Giving a power point slide showing various sensitization campaign against drug abuse carried out by the Anambra State Command under his watch across communities, churches, schools, parks and other institutions and public spaces, Onyishi urged community leaders and parents not see drug dealing as a crime and not as a business.
He urged the stakeholders to key into the Mrs Soludo’s campaign of “See something, Say Something” noting that the Governor’s wife as the Chairperson of the State Drug Control Committee in Anambra has done so well and should be supported to do more.
National President of Association of Anambra State Town Unions (ASATU), Chief Titus Akpudo, Chairman House Committee on Health, Hon. Tony Muobike, Director of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade, Celestine Anere, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon Tony Collins-Nwabunwanne, Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, ASATU Youth leader, Ken Okoli, APGA Youth Chairman, Tochukwu Obiadi, among others all spoke and gave their commitments on taking the practical messages and steps to the grassroots towards a drug free Anambra State.
