{The Eastern Region Police Commander (RPC) Assistant Commission of Police (ACP) Emmanuel Karasi has told youths in Kirehe and Kayonza districts that being people of integrity and observing national values will keep them safe from crimes like drug abuse.}
He made the remarks in two separate awareness meetings where he met with close to 1500 youths in Kirehe District and 800 youths in Kayonza District.
The awareness campaigns were held in line with the ongoing anti-drug campaign currently underway countrywide. The campaign was launched early this week in accordance with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking marked every June 26.
While addressing youth in Kirehe District, on June 30, ACP Karasi observed that most of the drugs seized in the district are sneaked in through porous borders from the neighboring countries.
“Drugs can cause enormous risks to the consumer’s health particularly his or her brain functionality. To avoid that, you should always uphold dignity and be people of integrity – that way, you won’t be drawn into reckless and irresponsible behaviors like drug abuse,” said ACP Karasi
He went on to say that, statistics show that majority of the drug users are youth.
“Effects of abusing drugs can cause long term psychological, physical, social and economic harm, among others…You are the future of our country that’s why we have to ensure that you are in good health,” he said.
The campaign was also attended by the Head of Institute for HIV/AIDs, Diseases Prevention and Control (IHPDC) at Rwanda Biomedical Center, Dr Innocent Turate who gave detailed figures about drug abuse saying that statistics compiled in 2012 indicated that 7.46 percent of alcoholics are youths while 2.5 percent of cannabis addicts are youths.
He added that addicts can sometimes develop severe incapacitating effects that manifest in form of Parkinson-like symptoms of shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking.
Police also paraded Eugene Hakizimana who was arrested as he smuggled three kilograms of cannabis through a porous border from Burundi.
Hakizimana told residents that ever since his arrest, he lost connection with his family and his finances.
“I appeal to anyone who may be dealing in drugs to stop before its too late otherwise there is a lot to lose,” said Hakizimana.
In the last six months, Police in Kirehe seized 643 kg of cannabis, 360 pellets of cannabis and 296 liters of Kanyanga an illicit gin. The substances were all destroyed in yesterday’s event.
In Kayonza District, the anti-drug campaign held on June 29 began with a procession where students carried placards bearing messages against drug abuse.
The event that was also presided over by ACP Karasi dwelt most on effects of drug abuse where students were presented with facts about drug abuse and what someone can achieve if they refrained from the habit.
Daniel Niyonshuti a former drug addict and street child testified how he managed to overcome the addiction and went back to school.
“At the age of eight, in 2003, I was a street child abusing drugs frequently. A foster home took me in, put me in school. Today, I am a second year student of medicine at University of Rwanda. I couldn’t have made it this far if I had kept up with drugs,” said Niyonshuti.
Attendants of the campaign were urged to spread the word and sensitize their peers to join the fight against drug abuse mainly through sharing information with the police on drug consumers and traffickers.
Emmanuel Rudasumbwa, one of the students that attended the campaign said, “We are now aware that everyone has to play a significant role in fighting drugs since the effects are not only limited to consumers.”
The campaign was also attended by the district officials and local leaders.
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