Miritini rehab centre to offer technical skills to reformed addicts
An NYS serviceman at the main gate of the Miritini camp where the government is constructing a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Marwa said the completion of the centre has taken time as the State is determined to make it "international.”
- During his tour of the Coast last August, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed an immediate crackdown on drugs.
- The rehabilitation programme is being coordinated by Nacada, national government and Mombasa County.
The government is set to complete the Miritini rehabilitation centre to admit relapsing drug addicts at the Coast, regional coordinator Nelson Marwa has said.
Mr Marwa said the completion of the centre has taken time as the State is determined to make it "international.”
He said the centre would be a state-of-the-art facility which will enable the addicts to acquire technical skills once they are rehabilitated.
“Last week I saw some leaders questioning the progress of that centre. Let them go and see what is being done.
"The government has sunk a lot of money there and it is not just going to be a casual rehabilitation centre, it will be an all-round training centre,” said Mr Marwa.
GOOD PROGRESS
He said by March 2017 there will be "good progress" in the renovation of the centre situated at the National Youth Service (NYS) camp in Miritini.
“By the end of this month you can go and check because the government is not looking at it from a myopic perspective.
“It will have a training place, doctors will be there and all the basic needs given to the addicts once admitted,” he said in an interview.
The rehabilitation programme is being coordinated by the government, the National Authority for Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) and the Mombasa County government.
County Chief Health Officer, Dr Khadijah Shikely, Tuesday said the county has been in consultations with the relevant departments on the rehabilitation of addicts.
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL PROJECT
“I understand that the county is supposed to work on the technical part of the programme and we are looking forward to work with our partners because the programme is an inter-departmental one, but so far we have made progress,” said Dr Shikely.
She said the county has an ongoing rehabilitation programme for the addicts.
During his tour of the Coast last August, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed an immediate crackdown on drugs, dealers and their dens and the rehabilitation of users.
