FDA engages stakeholders on combating drug abuse
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has engaged stakeholders in the Wa Municipality to chart effective ways of combating drug abuse, especially tramadol, in the Upper West Region.
Members of the Wa Municipal Assembly, representatives of Bahas Foundation, Hope Foundation, Department of Social Welfare and Narcotics Control Commission, attended a meeting to contribute towards fighting the menace of drug abuse, at the weekend.
Mr Kelvin Sunkpal Dafaari, the Upper West Regional Head of the FDA, noted that the failure of people to report drug peddlers operating in their communities, impeded the fight against the menace.
“We are looking at collaborating with local authorities and traditional leaders to intensify public education and sensitisation at the community level,” he said.
Mr Dafaari said “we also want to strengthen our collaboration with the relevant state agencies and institutions to be able to fight the canker.”
He said that tramadol was now being sold in the communities by unauthorised persons, including mobile money vendors and owners of provision shops.
Mr Yahaya Mohammed Hafiz, the Upper West Regional Manager of the Pharmacy Council, said his outfit deemed it necessary to collaborate with the FDA to check the alarming rate at which the youth were abusing tramadol in the Wa Municipality.
He appealed to stakeholders to abide by rules and regulations to help reduce drug abuse, expressing worry that some of the drugs smuggled into the country.
Mr Issahaku Tahiru Moomin, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), observed that drug abuse was a national security concern.
He urged assembly members to support the FDA in the fight against drug abuse, and serve as ambassadors against drug peddling and abuse.
Mr Yahaya Jiga, the assembly member for the Bamahu Electoral Area, recommended the production of injectable tramadol, which would be difficult to use by any person than health personnel. —GNA
