<<Print>>

Statistics available with the United Nations office for Drug Control world report shows signs of an increase in drug use and abuse in developing countries.

Countries in the West African sub- region have not been left out of the equation and to bring the menace to its minimal point in Ghana, Union Savings and Loans collaborated with the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and Claron Medical Services to mark this year’s World International Day against Drug use.

The theme for this year’s International day against Drug is: LISTEN FIRST: Drug Prevention among the Youth and Children and to mark it, experts in the financial sector from Union S&L together with reps from NACOB and Claron Medical Services trooped to the Alcohol and Rehabilitation Centre located at Medie in Accra to offer support to persons battling drug use.

In an address by the Accra Regional commander of NACOB, DNA Victoria EsinamAssah – Offei who was the guest speaker, she indicated that the fight against drugs was not a one man business and constantly required the hands of others in dealing with it.

She noted that “NACOB as a lead agency for drug control cannot fight this menace alone and therefore rely on other institutions to restore the youth and future leaders and give them hope for better future.”

She continued that NACOB’s partnership with Union and Claron, is mainly to offer assistance to inmates at the Drug and Alcohol free awareness and rehab centre (DAFAREC). The assistance to the inmates would be in “the form of basic, educational and health care”, Victoria EsinamAssah- Offei added.

Corporate Affairs Manager of Union Savings and Loans, Yaa Fosuah Gyamfi, explained to Peacefmonline.com why Union had chosen to partner other stakeholders to fight this good fight of change.

According to her, “every year, we use this opportunity to partner other stakeholders and institutions whose objectives generally fall in line with our CSR objectives to create positive impact in society.

“This gesture is in line with our Corporate Social Responsibility programme dubbed “Growing Communities; ensuring that people are healthy, educated and protected; markets and businesses have the capacity to succeed; and the sanitation conditions in business communities addressed.  

Our assistance emphasizes our dedication to “Growing Communities”, as it focuses on a section of the marginalized group (the inmates) in the society.”

A donation valued at GHS 15,000.00 was handed over to the centre to cater for their rent bills and other basic needs.

Yaa Fosuah Gyamfi added that “we hope our gesture will go a long way to assist them in their recovery process with the expectation that these inmates graduate and reunite with their families and contribute meaningfully to their various communities after completing the rehabilitation programme.”

The role of Claron Medical Centre, a subsidiary of Claron Health International, is to aid the rehabilitation process of the inmates and to take them through health screening to ensure that they are healthy.

Richard Worentetu, Marketing and Business Development Manager of Claron Medical Centre stated that “we at Claron believe in the power of human endeavour to overcome adversity and persevere.

We also believe that good health is a right everyone should enjoy, which ties into our fundamental credo of promoting health and prolonging life. We also encourage the inmates to sustain their resolve to get better and properly reintegrate themselves back into society.”

Photos Below: