Government appeals for hospital beds to furnish drug rehabilitation centres

By Anna Chibamu

LOCAL Government ministry permanent secretary, John Basera is appealing for donations in the form of hospital beds for drug rehabilitation centres countrywide.

According to a letter addressed to provincial medical directors, district medical officers, private hospitals, corporates, faith-based organisations and civil society, Basera said most rehabilitation institutions are in dire need of hospital admission beds.

The country has sixty-three (63) facilities for drug rehabilitation and livelihood centres  that have been identified to date.

“The Resource Mobilization Pillar in the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse is mandated to seek, coordinate and pool resources together for all seven (7) pillars so as to enable them to manage the menace of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe.

“Most of the availed rehabilitation institutions are in dire need of hospital admission beds.

“The National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse is kindly appealing to all private and government institutions to donate beds which are not in use at their facilities,” read part of the letter.

Cases of drug and substance use have been on the increase over the past few years with most families affected.

To demonstrate the prevalence of the scourge, recently there were reports of the expulsion of eight (8) girls from Dominican Convent High School over allegations of violating the school’s anti-drug policy.

Most government institutions do not have enough medical equipment and even such consumables as gloves and syringes are not found in major referral centres or hospitals.

On drug and substance use, government has put in place policies to curb the misuse, but not much has been achieved as shown by a surge in cases reported or arrests made last year.

Arrests of drug and substance use culprits have also surged in 2024, with close to 2,400 people said to have been taken into custody.

Officials say economic difficulties are hampering efforts to curb the problem.

Fines ranging from $30 to $400 or imprisonment not exceeding two years for any business convicted of selling illicit drugs have been imposed by Cabinet, Information minister Jenfan Muswere told the media recently.

In addition to the 2,373 people who were arrested in 2024, 48 bases in six provinces were raided and dismantled.