Former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya Calls For Action On Drug Misuse

Posted by: lukwago J in Uganda news May 2, 2019

Former Vice President Prof.Gilbert Bukenya has called for an urgent action on increased alcohol and drug usage by the youth in the region resulting into violence in society.

Gilbert Bukenya addressing researchers, health experts and academicians at the 5^th East African Psychology Conference at Nabinooya Beach Hotel decried the level of drug and alcohol use that has inflicted society at alarming rate.

“it’s pathetic that even in universal primary education schools children are stressed and cannot study well because their parents do not give them guidance because they spend more time engaging in prostitution in slums and take drugs inform of addressing economic demands, ”he said.

Bukenya who expressed concern over the alarming rate of drug misuse at schools, universities and in homes noted that youths and parents now smoke grey hair, ARVs and old human bones to intoxicate themselves to cause havoc and unrest in society.

Gilbert Bukenya appealed to law enforcement organizations to conduct schools assessment exercises and community advocacy campaigns and provide referral to help drug victims.

Dr.Hasfa Lukwata Principal Medical Officer Ministry of Health said government is working on establishing mental health advisory board that will oversee mental health treatment and monitoring of all rehabilitation centres in the country.

Last year the president assented into the reviewed and amended mental health act of 1964 however Lukwata says this has to be taken back to cabinet for approval to be implemented.

She added that her ministry is also working on mental health guidelines for stakeholders implement in addressing this problem.

The two days conference organized by University of Kisubi is running under the theme: Promoting Psychological Principles to Improve Mental health Addiction Care and Community Resilience has attracted over 100 researchers, health experts and academicians from Kenya, Tanzania, United States of America, South Sudan and Uganda.

Dr. Sebastian Ssempijja co-chair organizing committee noted that the continent of Africa has had significant stigma towards mental health addiction and relevant health consequences for a long time however the university is working on various partnership to conduct mental health research and advocacy in the region.

Currently the university is working with Uganda behavioral health alliance, university of Wisconsin and private health experts in conducting mental health research.

Due to drug abuse,last year prominent musician Jackie Chandiru music stardom went down for abusing drugs and currently undergoing rehabilitation.

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