By Nyasha Mutena.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and drug network (ZCLDN) is imploring the government to promote access to human rights and health services for people who use drugs through drug policy reform and harm reduction.
Speaking at the Health for Justice Justice for Health campaign launched yesterday, Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network Projects Executive Director Mr Wilson Box said substance and drug use is contributing to high mortality rate chiefly amongst the youth who are the custodians of tomorrow.
He said there is a thin line between drug use and contracting acquiring sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS saying this shouts out to better drug policies that prioritize public health and human rights to alleviate loss of lives to related ailments.
“This campaign is calling for better drug policies and to change laws and policies which impede access to harm reduction interventions,” said Mr Box.
Mr Box said it was upon realising that drug use could not be eradicated simply by criminalising the victims but needed a different approach which include empathy and sensitization for the victims.
To date, Mr Box said over 145 prison officers have been trained how to deal with drug users whilst various health personnel are also receiving training on how to reduce harm and also cox the victims to live drug free lives.
Detective Inspector Talent Chinyowa from the CID drugs and narcotics department commended the initiative by ZCLDN saying their effort was complementing that of ZRP on a different level.
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“We are really grateful for the effort shown by Mr Box and his team, he is fighting our war on the other side,” said Detective Inspector Chinyowa.
D.I Chinyowa said ZRP has seized illicit, medicinal and counterfeit drugs with an estimated value of USD2.5 million from January 2018- September 2019. He hailed the anti-drug use clubs that promote wellness amongst learners at schools, The University of Zimbabwe and other tertiary institutions.
Popular MC Zaza Ndlovu aka (Zazalicious) confessed that she fell into the drug use trap involuntarily when she was involved in a fatal accident and had to rely on morphine.
“Some months ago I was involved in a very fatal accident and broke my arm among other injuries, I was administered some morphine due to the intense pain I was in, after I was discharged as you know I had to get back to my work so to balance my career and condition I had to gobble morphine tablets which only effected in dependency on morphine. It was with the help and support from friends and family that I managed to overcome drug use, imagine someone who is in that situation but cannot find the support and help I received to overcome drug use,” said Zazalicious.
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