Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu commemorates International Overdose Awareness in Potchefstroom
The Deputy Minister of Social Development Mme Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu in partnership with the Central Drug Authority (CDA) and the South African Network for People Who Use Drugs (SANPUD) will on August 31st join the global community in commemorating International Overdose Awareness Day at JB Marks treatment centre in Potchefstroom,North West province.
Observed under the theme- “Recognizing those people who go unseen” the day seeks to raise awareness around the silent killer that is overdose and the stigma that surrounds overdose fatalities, and that overdose deaths are preventable.
The observance of the day is part of the department’s implementation of the National Drug Master 2019-2024, which is the country’s blueprint to combat the scourge of alcohol and substance abuse that has exponentially risen to epidemic proportion.
According to Harm Reduction International “overdose is a risk when using many psychoactive drugs, but is much common for some drugs such as opioids. It is especially common for people who use a combination of substances and those who inject drugs” .
Naloxone is known to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose by helping breathing return to normal, and return a person to consciousness but is sadly underused.
From the first of September 2023, for nine consecutive days across all nine provinces the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mme Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu will be criss-crossing the country educating South Africans about the dangers of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD).
FASD is a leading source of non-genetic developmental and intellectual disability globally and is usually associated with primary and secondary disabilities. South Africa has been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to have the highest reported prevalence of FASD in the world.
Members of the media are invited to attend the commemoration of International Overdose Awareness Day planned as follows:
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the handover scheduled as follows:
Date: Thursday, 31 August 2023
Time: 09:00
Venue: JB Marks Rehabilitation centre, Potchefstroom, North West Province
Media can RSVP by contacting Ms. Makhosazana Mavuso on 072 732 9381 or on makhosazanama@dsd.gov.za / Mr Petrus Siko on 083 647 0668 or on psiko@nwpg.gov.za
Media enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067 / lumkao@dsd.gov.za
