Lamu, KENYA: Drug addicts in Lamu County will soon not have to travel far to get help, The Kenya Red Cross Society is set to launch the first ever rehab centre in the county before the end of the year.
The rehab centre is being set up at Hindi area in Lamu West at a cost of sh.75 Million by the Kenya Red Cross Society.
Speaking when he toured Lamu on Wednesday, Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Abbas Gullet acknowledged that drug use was a major hindrance to the development of Lamu.
“The rehab centre is almost done and we are optimistic that by end year we will have launched it ready for use by those willing to reform and make better use of their lives.The centre will hold at least 100 people at ago and because we want to strike a gender balance,50 of those will be men and 50 women at every interval so that we are helping all. We hope to do the much we can to help such individuals turn their lives around for the better,”said Gullet.
He said the Red Cross will also sponsor skill training for all successful rehab candidates to enable them pursue various ventures that will ensure they have sustainable livelihoods.
Lamu governor Fahim Twaha said the rehab centre was a much needed facility in the region considering the high number of youth who are hooked to drugs, a lifestyle he said has rendered many unproductive.
Twaha said the county administration will render all the necessary support to ensure the course is successful.
“Just stay away from drugs,there are other things people can engage in for fun but not drugs. This is because getting in is easy but letting go will prove quite a struggle that unfortunately many are unable to overcome. We are however glad that the rehab centre will enable Lamu to take that major stride towards resolving the issue of drug use so that we have a generation that’s useful to itself and society,” said Twaha.
The governor pledged that the county government would sponsor the first 1000 successful rehab candidates to various institutions to acquire life skills that would enable them pursue honorable livelihoods.
