As of today, Iwawa has released a total of 27,300 graduates from 22 intakes since 2010.
Dr. Jean Damascene Nshimiyimana, the coordinator of the rehabilitation center has said that the courses offered at the center serve two purposes, to correct and reintegrate into the community.
Despite expended efforts, some graduates have been dragging themselves into abnormal behaviours prompting the Government to take them back to Iwawa.
Figures show that 10% of Iwawa graduate end up relapsing and go back into drugs that they find themselves back to the Island..
{{Inadequate follow up}}
Patrick Bugingo, one of graduates from the recent intake has said that the lack of follow up affects them.
“When we leave Iwawa, we are left to fend for ourselves. There is no follow up to know the situation we are going through,” he said.
Delinquents undergoing rehabilitation programs at Iwawa receive counseling and psychiatrists that help them along the rehabilitation process.
Speaking to IGIHE, Bugingo has revealed that they do not receive the same support after returning to respective communities.
The graduate who underwent rehabilitation twice at the center, says that continuously checking on their situation and providing counseling would have a significant impact.
“If possible there could be a follow up of the graduates at sector level by establishing committees in charge on rehabilitated delinquents. Besides, there can be regular meetings to share testimonies and assess how far we have gone with reintegration into the society,” Bugingo revealed.
He said that having assistance to develop own projects and put into practice the skills acquired at the center would be of great significance.
{{Officials speak pout}}
During the recent graduation of the 22nd intake at Iwawa, the Mayor of Rutsiro district, Triphose Murekatete said that they have identified the number of people who underwent the same program to help them reintegrate into the society.
“We are ready to receive and help them. Your families are waiting for you. You were like Saul when you came here but you have changed to Paul. As leaders, we are ready to help you put into practice the skills you have acquired,” she said.
The Mayor of Rutsiro has told IGIHE that a meeting with the graduates was convened this week.
“During the meeting, they will be provided with necessary equipment to implement their projects and put into practice acquired skills. Besides, graduates will be segmented into groups for easy follow up,” she noted.
During a recent interview with IGIHE, Fred Mufulukye, the Director General of the National Rehabilitation Service (NRS) explained that graduates dragging themselves into drug abuse are influenced by the society.
He revealed that the NRS makes possible efforts to help them but highlighted that there are lingering family problems that are bound to affect some of graduates after returning home which might push them to abuse drugs again.
Mufulukye also attributed the relapse to inadequate resources to make proper follow up.
The Iwawa Center is allocated the annual budget of Rwf527, 395,756 of annual budget.
It seeks to continue helping delinquents to reintegrate into the community to turn them into more responsible citizens contributing to national development.
Leave a Reply