Zimbabwe to turn Covid-19 centres into drug rehabilitation centres
MP says access to rehabilitation centres costs up to US$600
By Auther Chimbgwa
Zimbabwe is set to turn its idle Covid-19 isolation centres into drug rehabilitation centres in a country battling the scourge of drug and substance abuse in its young population, a minister has said.
Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mercy Maruva-Dinha said this in parliament this past Wednesday while fielding questions from legislators.
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Glenview North MP Happymore Chidziva asked the deputy minister what the government was doing to increase access to rehabilitation by the majority poor who engage in drug and substance abuse.
Chidziva said access to rehabilitation cost up to US$600, an amount that is out of reach for the poor.
“…What are the plans on the rehabilitation of these young people who are affected by crystal meth substance; because there is the issue that the only rehabilitation centres that are now known in Zimbabwe, you have to pay something about US$500 to US$600,” he said.
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In response Maruva-Dinha said government was in the process of rehabilitating all the Covid-19 centres so that they could render services to those young people who are affected by drug and substance abuse.
“Also, after rehabilitation, there is integration into society. Right now, we are mobilising funds so that there is rehabilitation of those centres,” said Maruva-Dinha.
Maruva-Dinha said government was undergoing renovation of rehabilitation centres in several areas in the country.
“Right now, there are about three rehabilitation centres that are operational and the other ones are under renovation,” she said.
The switch from Covid-19 to rehabilitation centres was mooted by government a couple of years ago after finding that there was need for more facilities to cater for thousands of youths who are into drugs.
Speaking at the time, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who also chaired the National Committee on Drugs and Substance Abuse said, “some idle Covid centres which were not being used because some resorted back to being ordinary and normal hospitals but in this case these 8 were identified just last week”.
