Prayer service for nyaope addicts in Mabopane
“We are also seeing an increase in young women who are now selling themselves for drugs. We need serious intervention."
The use of dirty needles to shoot up drugs is fast fuelling HIV/Aids infections in Soshanguve.
This information was disclosed during a prayer meeting in commemoration of the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking outside the Mabopane train station on Tuesday.
Organiser and community activist Khutsi Malala said the use of both injected and non-injected illicit drugs increased the risk of HIV infection also because people under the influence of drugs took greater sexual risks.
“The situation is currently bad with recent findings by Sefako Makgatho University that all bluetooth nyaope addicts who presented themselves at George Mukhari Hospital are HIV positive,” he said.
He said drug and alcohol intoxication impaired judgement and decision-making which resulted in greater risky sexual behaviour.
“When injection drug users share needles, syringes or other drug paraphernalia then HIV was easily transmitted between them,” he said.
He said drug abuse also affected overall health, making users more susceptible to quick progression from HIV-infection to Aids.
“We are also seeing an increase in young women who are now selling themselves for drugs. We need serious intervention,” said Malala.
“The objective [of the meeting] is to pray for the addicts’ lives and motivate them to quit.”
The event was attended by scores of addicts and pastors from various local churches.
Pastor Steve Sanyane from In God We Trust Church said drug addiction was demonic.
“These people [nyaope addicts] need our prayers and the Lord’s help,” he said.
Sanyane, and fellow pastors Winnie Makinta and PGM Maleka prayed for more the than 50 addicts “to cast out the demons”.
“The holy spirit is there and active. We have prayed for you and over this prayer and we believe the holy spirit will respond to your prayer and cries for help,” said Makinta.
“They are my peers and it cuts me to see them in this state. I know some of them are smart and could be doing something better with their lives.”
Malala said he was planning the “long walk against nyaope addiction”, from Johannesburg to Soshanguve on 27 to 28 July to raise funds to send consenting addicts to rehab.
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