Maiduguri, 28 April. 2025 – Getting medical assist to cease utilizing illicit medication saved my life, stated 41-year-old *Aliu Musa from Maiduguri, Borno State. (*title modified for privateness).
Aliu abused medication for 15 years. This affected his work, relationships, and well being. “My life was a large number. I used to be knowledgeable that I talked and behaved irrationally anytime I used to be underneath the affect of medicine.
Once I was on medication, I used to be consistently in ache, could not suppose clearly or do my every day duties,” Aliu stated.
Aliu acquired free therapy on the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri via a medical help intervention.
“My life has improved since I began therapy. I am doing higher at work, and my marriage is stronger as a result of my behaviour at dwelling has modified,” Aliu defined.
This system handled and helped him to cease abusing medication and supplied counselling on learn how to handle his money and time.
Addressing Well being Dangers
Recognising drug use as a big public well being concern, the World Well being Group (WHO) advocates for a complete set of hurt discount interventions. These measures purpose to lower the transmission charges of HIV, HCV, and HBV, alongside stopping deadly overdoses amongst people who use medication and enabling them to reside drug-free lives.
Authorities and WHO Efforts
The Authorities of Nigeria, in collaboration with the WHO and its companions, launched the hurt discount methods, together with the Treatment-Assisted Therapy (MAT) programme, nationwide to offer medical help to drug abusers , cut back the unfold of illnesses amongst individuals who inject medication and supply entry to companies for HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and psychological well being.
The therapy would additionally assist them reside an on a regular basis, drug-free life, turning into productive to assist themselves, their households and communities at giant.
Dr Salaudeen Jimoh, Director of Hospital Providers and Chairman of the Nationwide Hurt Discount Technical Working Group, acknowledged that with the implementation of MAT, Nigeria is now totally adhering to the WHO’s suggestions on hurt discount.
He appreciated the World Fund for supporting the Nation in implementing this intervention. He additional lauded the Gombe state authorities for pioneering the MAT programme in Nigeria, stating that the state’s learnings will inform the scaling up of the programme to different states.
Dr Salaudeen appealed to Nigerians to empathise with drug customers and assist, rehabilitate, and empower them, stating, “Treatment-Assisted Therapy (MAT) is now out there within the nation together with different hurt discount companies. With the ultimate goal to assist drug customers cease using illicit substances, individuals who want these companies are inspired to entry them.”
Scaling up interventions:
To perform these aims, the World Well being Organisation (WHO) supported the Nigerian authorities in creating and localising the implementation of hurt discount methods, insurance policies, and tips, together with the Needle Syringe Alternate Tips, which purpose to forestall infections via sterile gadgets.
WHO supported the federal government in establishing the Nationwide Technical Working Group (NTWG) on Hurt Discount and the Nationwide Drug Demand and Hurt Discount Programme inside the Federal Ministry of Well being and Social Welfare, implementing methods to strengthen its response.
These methods included constructing the capability of fifty individuals, comprising representatives from the federal and state governments, academia, healthcare staff, implementing and growth companions, civil society organisations, and individuals who inject medication (PWID), on hurt discount throughout the nation.
Dr. Mya Ngon, WHO’s Crew Lead for Communicable and Non-communicable Ailments, emphasised that “WHO will proceed collaborating with the federal government to make sure entry to prevention, early detection, and therapy for drug use and associated well being challenges.” This joint initiative seeks to enhance the well being and well-being of people who inject medication, making certain they’ll entry important companies and assist.
“I am pleased that the federal government has plans to assist individuals who use medication get free therapy. I’ll inform others about this system to allow them to get assist, too,” Aliu stated.