DRUG Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has been advised to increase centres for rehabilitating drug addicts, who are mostly youths.

Dr Eva Matiko Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) director of projects made the call here over the weekend during the commemorations of this year’s World Drug Day that was held in Mwanza at national level.

She said that centers available in the country are not enough to help rehabilitate addicted youths and fight drug abuse, “that’s why I’m asking DCEA and other stakeholders to build more centres to cutter for the increasing demand.”

Dr Matiko also encouraged all addicted young people to use the rehabilitation centres to get back to normal life, because “we need them in building the country.”

Youths undergoing rehabilitation at the centres will be trained in modern livestock keeping, poultry farming and vehicle repairs, she said.

THPS implements a programme called ‘Afya Hatua project’ funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) in Coast and Tanga regions by providing Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and HIV comprehensive prevention, care and treatment services to those in need.

 Afya Hatua project has been supporting local civil society organizations to help in identifying individuals in need of MAT services and enrol them in the programme.

 It supports the government in its efforts to reach HIV epidemic control through supporting comprehensive facility and community-based HIV prevention, care, and treatment services in Kigoma, Coast and Shinyanga regions.

 Dr Matiko said that they educate youths on the negative effects of using drugs and encourage them to sign up for MAT services in their respective areas.

 Most youth engage in drug use through peer groups, therefore educating them about the negative impact on the practice can significantly help to solve the problem, she laminated.