US Government Pledges To Continue Supporting Tanzania To Improve Health Services Towards Drugs Abuse Victims -

Dr George Mponela, the Director of Programmes at the US Embassy’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

A Total Of 19,000 People In Tanzania Are Currently In Recovering Homes And Close To Half A Million With Different Substance Use Of Disorders Are In Various Psychiatric Deperments Across The Country.

DODOMA. THE US Government has expressed commitment to continue supporting Tanzania to fight against drug abuse, and strengthening needed health systems for assisting victims of illicit drugs across the country.

The commitment was affirmed by Dr George Mponela, the Director of Programmes at the US Embassy’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in his remarks during observation of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as ‘World Drug Day.

He spoke over the need for Tanzania to adopt scientific evidence – based approach in order to better interventions on prevention, harm reduction and treatment towards the drugs empathy in the country.

He noted, recent statistics shows that the country is currently serve for 18,000 Tanzanians in various methadone clinics which are handled by the Government of Tanzania in cooperation with the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other different international partners.

These include ICAP-Tanzania, Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS), AMREF, Management and Development for Health (MDH), Health Africa and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

In addition, he said a total of 19,000 people in the country are currently in recovering homes and close to half a million people with different substance use of disorders are in various psychiatric deperments across the country.

” This is not a statistical issue but humanitarian trategy which is unfolding every day,” he added.

He said currently, there are at least 16 clinics which rolls out methadone services in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, saying the facilities are operating under CDC through various technical assistance to ensure availability of vital healthcare services, including managing and prevention of over doze, which is a leading cause of death among the drugs victims.

Dr Mponela said the target is also to ensure the mental health counseling and other community referrals are being prioritized.

“On harm reduction, CDC has been a long trusted partner in Tanzania, playing a very important role to address the harm of drug abuse within the country,” he noted.

He added, through PEPFAR and CDC supports, Tanzania managed to become the first country in Sub- Saharan Africa to introduce methadone treatment in 2011.

“By working together, we have a power to shape a future that is healthier, safer, full of hope, and the future which is free from substance abuse,” he assured.

He emphasized the need for Tanzania to embrace a spirit of moving away from stigma against the drugs empathy, in order to adopt compassion and informed solutions.

He hailed President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her unwavering commitment in the fight against illicit drug trade by capacitating the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority in the country, together with security and defence forces, health professionals, stakeholders and the general public, saying the initiatives have resulted into useful collective efforts to contain drug abuse.

According to a special recent report on the State of Illicit Drugs for the Year 2024 in Tanzania, issued by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination), Mr William Lukuvi, Tanzania has made a significant efforts to curb the production, peddling and use of illicit drugs in the country.

The milestone, attributed to a great role played by Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA), in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified the war against illicit drugs, leading to the confiscation of 2,307 kilogrammes of cannabis, making it the most seized drug.

According to the minister, of the seized drugs, 2,303.2 tonnes were locally produced cannabis, while 4.17 tonnes were high-THC cannabis known as Skunk, smuggled into the country from some Southern African countries.

According to the report, the amount of skunk seized increased by 89.8 per cent compared to the previous year, signalling enhanced control of the drug trade in the country.

Additionally, khat, another farm-based drug, was seized in significant quantities, as 18.45 tonnes were confiscated during various operations nationwide.

On the industrially manufactured drugs, the report revealed that the Government successfully seized 1.7 tonnes of methamphetamine, 433.02 kilogrammes of heroin, and 853 grams of cocaine.

It was also revealed, the Government also seized five kilogrammes of a new psychoactive substance known as methylenedioxy-pyrovalerone (MDPV), which was being smuggled into the country.

“These achievements are the result of rigorous work by our security agencies in controlling trafficking routes through borders, airports and seaports,” the Minister said.

In addition, he said the Government has strengthened the monitoring of precursor chemicals and medical drugs with narcotic properties to prevent their diversion and misuse for producing illicit drugs. In 2024, a total of 19.2 kilogrammes and 22,682.4 litres of precursor chemicals and 56.78 kilogrammes and 200 millilitres of narcotic medical drugs were seized.

Moreover, through electronic systems, the Government successfully blocked the importation of 29.6 tonnes and 125 litres of precursor chemicals.

To improve services for drug addicts, the report briefed that, the Government continued to provide methadone treatment for opiate addicts, especially heroin users, through 16 centres, registering 17,975 addicts.

Furthermore, 62 sober houses continued to provide recovery services to 17,230 drug users, being a step in helping addicts return to healthy lives.

The ‘World Drug Day’ which is observed globally on June 26 each year.

Held under the theme of “Invest in Prevention and Treatment Against Narcotic Drugs” Tanzania used this year’s day to celebrate notable achievements the country has so far attained in the fight against production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs, together with intensifying crackdowns on drug trafficking syndicates.

Moreover, the day is for enabling the Government to gather with diverse stakeholders to delve on how best to scale -up war against importation, peddling and use of the mental and physical destructive drugs.

The event attracted ministers, Member of Parliament, clerics, judges, district commissioners from all districts in Dodoma, Permanent Secretaries (PSs), staff from the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA), citizens, as well as representatives from different Embassies to Tanzania.