AT least 19 drug addicts have died on the Isles, this year, due to various complications associated with substance abuse including overdose, authorities at the ‘Zanzibar Psychiatric Hospital (ZPH)’, have said.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the
hospital, Dr Khamis Othman, revealed the sad story when receiving
DOA-kits for testing methadone, heroine, cannabis, benzodiazepine,
cocaine, and amphetamine in the body. He said 290 out of the registered
435 addicts are adhering to treatment, but 19 died because of violating
medication rules.
“We appeal to the patients to observe
treatment guidelines, as well as maintain close relations with medical
staffs or risk death.
While on prescribed medicine, some use
drugs which affect the body system,” CMO said after receiving the kits
donated by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) aimed at
improving health services at the hospital. He thanked the organisation
for the timely support, highly needed at the hospital for testing the
patients.
The kits valued 17m/- were handed over
by UNODC’s Ms Immaculate Nyoni Maliyamkono- Associate National Programme
Management Officer.
“We appreciate the support because the
clinic had run out of the kits, crucial in treating the drug addicts,
mainly for testing patients admitted for the first time, and monitoring
of other patients on medical dose,” said Dr Othman.
Ms Maliyamkono said her office was
committed to provide continued support to the hospitals, in ensuring
that patients get the necessary services as she also called for the
enforcement of laws in combating illicit drugs, affecting many youths.
Mr Shaban Hassan Haji- Coordinator, HIV
unit, Ministry of health also thanked the UNODC for the support, as Mr
Hilali Nassir and Ms Mwanakhamis Hija, both former drug users used the
occasion to call upon youth to avoid illicit drugs. According to the
National Ant- Illicit Drugs Commission, more than four thousand youth
are estimated to be drugs addicts
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