Over 300 people from Tshabo village outside King Williams Town in the Buffalo City Metro were in attendance as Social Development and Special programmes conducted a drugs and substance abuse awareness campaign at the village’s community hall.
The need for this campaign was prompted by high level of substance abuse by teenagers and youth of the community. It was one of the build-up district campaigns that are held in June in commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The Commemoration takes place on 26 June every year as declared by United Nations back in 2003.
Under the theme “Think Health not drugs”, the campaign’s focus was to create awareness on the dangers of using substances. It was also to mobilise the formation of Teenagers Against Drug Abuse (TADA), a group that is aimed at fighting drugs and substance abuse in the society. An integration by other stakeholders prevailed as South African police service (SAPS), Department of Health and South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) also formed part of the programme.
In her speech, Andisiwe Msindwana, an Assistant manager for Special Needs in the Buffalo City Metro urged parents to be exemplary to their children. ”Children copy what their parents do, so if parents continue drinking and behave badly in front of their children, then there is a very long way to go… but if you live a healthy lifestyle then your children will follow suit,” Msindwana said.
She added that Traditional leaders, teachers and parents have a role to play in making sure that they raise children with “values and morals.”
Source: Eastern Cape Social Development
Drug use lambasted at Metro's awareness campaign
Province
