Silobela youth fight drugs
Our fight against the HIV virus is weakened by the high rate of drug use.
“HIV and Aids, drug abuse, unemploy-ment and illiteracy are some of the challenges facing our youth in Silobela and have to be tackled, if we are to have a prosperous youth,” said Simphiwe Nkosi.
The ANCYL Ward 22 branch secretary was speaking at the awareness campaign held in Silobela Community Hall last Saturday where community groups and other stakeholders were invited to put their heads together and map a way on how they will fight the scourge of drugs, particularly nyaope.
“Drug abuse in our community is increasing at an alarming rate. Of late, even girls have now joined the habit and today’s awareness campaign was to try and step in as the youth to assist government in their initiatives to fight drugs,” explained Simphiwe.
Chief Albert Luthuli Municipal HIV and Aids co-coordinator Khulelaphi Mkhwanazi said their role in the campaign was to warn and inform the youth that drugs are one of the key drivers in the high rate of HIV.
“Our fight against the HIV virus is weakened by the high rate of drug use, because the youth end up taking uninformed decisions which in many cases also include unsafe sex and unwanted pregnancies,”explained Khulelaphi.
She mentioned that family background was also a contributing factor to some of these problems, particularly if a child is from an abusive home.
Life Orientation (LO) teacher at Zinikeleni Secondary School Mr J.I. Masinga said their role as a school was to equip the learners with life skills aimed at enabling them to make better decisions.
Through the school support base team mainly made up of LO teachers, pupils receive support with life skills, study skills and drug abuse among others and the school would always refer a pupil to a relevant department for further assistance if required.
Recovered drug addict Mlungisi Zondi, who began using drugs when he was 14, pledged his support to the campaign, using his life experience as an example.
“I’ve been in and out of prison for various offences which I committed under the influence of drugs and today I run an organisation to help young men and women fight drugs,”said Mlungisi.
Mlungisi also warned the youth against peer pressure and association with bad friends.
Lack of sports and recreational activities have been mentioned as a reason why the youth end up taking drugs.
Girls finding comfort with older men in exchange for cash or a pleasant social life is also identified as a driver, because older men often insist on unprotected sex. In conclusion, Simphiwe said the awareness campaign was a stepping stone towards helping the youth and called on the community to get involved.
