The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
FIGHTING drug and substance abuse is a shared concern and ending it requires collective efforts among various stakeholders to promote healthy lifestyles in communities, a local church has said.
In order to raise awareness on the scourge in local communities, Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) (Sakubva Hilltop) marched around Sakubva last weekend to increase sensitisation and drive the message home on addressing substance abuse among young persons.
Dubbed: “Drug and Substance Awareness Campaign”, the march was targeted at some of the hotspots where the illegal use of drugs is prevalent in the high density suburb.
The march drew hundreds of people, among them members of the church from other centres.
Speaking on the sidelines of the march, an SDA pastor at Hillside District, Pastor Tendai Takawira, said rampant drug abuse is harmful to individuals, families and communities.
“As a church ministering in communities where people are abusing drugs and other dangerous substances, we organised this march and play our part to sensitise each other on the need to fight this scourge collectively. Our efforts are complementing those of Government and its various other departments that are committed to combating drug and substance abuse.
“Through this campaign, we are also ministering the word of God which can bring salvation to addicts from their harmful ways in order to transform their lives and promote healthy well-being. We are also carrying out various activities like sport and other projects in the church as a way of equipping the youth with life skills to keep them occupied and away from drugs,” he said.
Pastor Takawira called on other churches and stakeholders to be actively involved in fighting and ending drug and substance abuse.
He added that as a church they are lining up health awareness campaigns and other programmes like interest file through evangelism which will be conducted by health experts.
Speaking at the same occasion, a youth representative in the church, Mr Blessing Mutunyani, said it is disheartening to see young people waste away on drugs as this destroys their dreams and hope for the future.
Said Mr Mutunyani: “It is sad that some of us have become slaves to drugs. This is destroying their well-being and future. It is important for us to come together and uphold the Christian values. We are hoping for high impact outcomes through such awareness campaigns.”
SDA is set to hold another awareness campaign in the city this month.
Drug and substance abuse has become a major health issue that the country continues to grapple with.
