Psychiatrist calls for rehab centres, say Mututho not fit to head Nacada
Democratic Party of Kenya organising secretary Njagi Kumantha during a past media briefing. The party has lashed out at former cabinet minister Noah Wekesa for announcing the it had dissolved to join Jubilee Party. FILE PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Dr Njagi Kumantha, a former medical superintendent at Mathari hospital, suggested that each level-4 hospital sets aside a rehab centre to deal with the large number of alcoholics who would be struggling to sober up.
- The medic who heads Bright Side rehabilitation centre in Nairobi, also recommended the vetting of the current Nacada directors to ensure they are of impeccable integrity to qualify to lead the war on drugs and facilitate rehabilitation of addicts.
A psychiatrist has called for rehabilitation units to be set up in key government hospitals to deal with the high number of people anticipated to seek therapy following the crackdown on illicit brews.
Dr Njagi Kumantha, a former medical superintendent at Mathari hospital, suggested that each level-4 hospital sets aside a rehab centre to deal with the large number of alcoholics who would be struggling to sober up.
He decried the low number of rehabilitation centres in the country and the high cost incurred by patients, saying it was beyond reach of many.
He said the country had less than 80 privately run rehabilitation centres which charge about Sh1,500 while public hospitals such as Mathari hospital charges Sh500.
“Now that the supply for the illicit brew has been cut, there will be an increase in need for rehabilitation and recovery. The addicts might shift to other forms of addiction such as marijuana and miraa. It is only a matter of time before they think of something else to do. We can set up a rehab centre next to psychiatric units,” said Dr Kumantha.
The medic who heads Bright Side rehabilitation centre in Nairobi, also recommended the vetting of the current Nacada directors to ensure they are of impeccable integrity to qualify to lead the war on drugs and facilitate rehabilitation of addicts.
Dr Kumantha said that following the recent crackdown on illicit brews, liquor may become one of the commodities sold in the black market.
He said the current stage of the war on drugs required a person with a background of being a law enforcer, and whose dealings were above board.
Dr Kumantha who was one of the experts who participated in the formation of Nacada, said current chairman John Mututho was unfit to hold the office due to a case he is facing revolving around integrity.
“To fight drug abuse, we need a law enforcer. Mututho is not the best since he has no experience as such and he has a court case. We need the person who is in charge to be above board. We don’t need to disband the board but we need to vet the officers to ensure they are fit,” he said.
