GOVERNMENT is constructing a rehabilitation centre in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park high-density suburb as the country battles with the scourge of drug and substance abuse.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube said there were plans to ensure that every district has a drug rehab centre.
“Government is making frantic efforts to ensure the construction of drug addict rehabilitation centres across the country,” Ncube said.
“This is evidenced by the ground-breaking ceremony that we did some time ago in Cowdray Park recently.
“Government has also approached its partners to assist in the construction of the facility.”
Zimbabwe has witnessed an increase in drug and substance abuse in recent years.
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However, there are few public drug rehab centres while the privately-owned ones are known for pricing their services beyond reach of many.
According to reports, the country’s largest psychiatric referral hospital, Ingutsheni, is struggling to cope with the swelling number of patients related to drug and substance abuse.
In 2021, hospital authorities said at least 40 percent of new admissions were young male drug abusers and that it planned to set up a drug addict rehabilitation centre at the psychiatric institution.
In June 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said his government would take stern measures to stamp out this growing threat of drug abuse, particularly among teenagers and the youth.
Government also announced plans to upgrade existing mental health institutions to drug rehabilitation centres. But the plans have gathered dust.