VGADA to increase capacity of 1, 000 medical practitioners on drug harm reduction – Dr. Hope

President, Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) Dr. Hope Omeiza, has stated that the NGO is set to increase the capacity of over 1,000 medical practitioners within the FCT on Drug Harm Reduction.
The President in a statement on Thursday said this is one of VGADA’s programs to commemorate this year’s June 26th International Day’s theme of “Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives”.
VGADA is one of the leading NGOs that have made tremendous impacts in reducing the effects of drug abuse in Nigeria.

Dr. Hope Omeiza said “the criminalization of drug use, along with associated law-enforcement practices, increases vulnerability and negatively impacts access to services, and is among the factors driving the epidemics of HIV, viral hepatitis C (HCV), and tuberculosis (TB) among people who use drugs.

”In many parts of the world, people who inject drugs are denied access to essential harm reduction services and support, including the provision of sterile equipment, opioid substitution therapy (OST), and the opioid overdose antidote naloxone. As a result, they are often forced to share and reuse equipment such as needles and syringes, placing themselves and their sexual and injecting partners at significant risk of HIV infection and other harms, including overdose and death.
“Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) believes that Harm Reduction is a pertinent approach required to win the campaign against drug abuse, one reason is because the principles of harm reduction can complement other responses such as supply and demand reduction, all working in tandem to minimize the problems associated with drug use. The first responders and key professionals that drug users may first turn to for help or reach in case of overdose and other co -morbidities are the health care professionals at various levels of the Healthcare delivery system ranging from Primary to tertiary centers.”
Dr. Hope said, assuming that they are devoid of myths that foster discrimination; and that they are receptive and fully aware of harm reduction concept, principle and practices have been proven untrue overwhelmingly in many instances.

”This is why we are embarking on this project first within the FCT Abuja in building the capacity of at least 1,000 Health care professionals by training them on this all -important concept.

VGADA said the program objectives are to sensitize medical practitioners on drug abuse, create awareness and sensitization on harm reduction principles and practice among medical practitioners, equip medical practitioners with information on appropriate evidence -based response on drug abuse interventions, raise the appreciation of harm reduction principles among medical practitioners, increase availability of appropriate information on drug abuse, treatment services and harm reduction programs at the communities and health care facility levels, increase the commitment of medical practitioners on drug abuse campaign and harm reduction, increase the commitment of corporate, government and non -governmental organization in the campaign against drug abuse.