Free rehab services for the Thembisa community
The objective of LDAC is to have a drug-free city.
A journey to a thousand miles starts with a single step, so does the eradication of substance abuse.
The Local Drug Action Committee of Ekurhuleni (LDAC), in partnership with the provincial Department of Social Development, launched the regional structure of the LDAC, which aimed at providing substance abuse awareness to Thembisa residents on May 27 at Mehlareng Stadium.
Local NPOs in Thembisa, including Makukhanye and Ntlosentle, gave residents who attended the launch information on services they rendered.
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Remind Mabaso, the chairperson of LDAC said addicts who wanted to receive counselling services and access to free rehabilitation centres must approach their local NPOs or contact the Ekurhuleni Department of Social Development directly.
“The objective of the launch is to have a city free of drugs. Our local substance abuse organisations work closely with the community. Their role is to facilitate and ensure that the level of substance abuse is reduced.
“Doors to our local organisations are always open to those in need because we know that substance abuse has increased in our communities,” Mabaso said.
According to Lucky Tsekeli, divisional head of social development in the city of Ekurhuleni, the city’s intervention looks at capacity building for recovering addicts and it also focuses on providing life-skill programmes, training on employment and income-generating skills.“Once a person has undergone rehabilitation, an effort is made to ensure that they do not succumb to addiction again. This is done by enabling them with skills, such as plumbing, carpentry and electrical. This will either make them future entrepreneurs or help them find jobs.
“I believe that supporting recovering addicts can be accomplished by strengthening support structures in the community. Institutions like churches should be educated on substance abuse so that they can understand the impact of drugs on the community without prejudice. This will enable them to provide support to the affected families,” Tsekeli said.
Thembisile Masibuko, a member of the Bophelong-Empillweni New Life Community Project, which deals with children and orphans at Ndulwini Section, said the launch provided her with knowledge on the effects of substance abuse.
“Today, we learned about different organisations that offer substance abuse support in Thembisa and the available rehabilitation centres, which are free of charge. I am planning to educate others with the information I was given,” Thembisile said.
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