In a consultative meeting that attracted the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth, Rwanda Governance Board, Police and Religious leaders yesterday, officials discussed the way every institution could contribute towards ending the matter.
Youth Minister, Rosemary Mbabazi called on religious leaders to combine efforts towards teaching youth on ways to avoid involvement in drugs and their effects on health.
“Churches and Mosques are the places where people come without invitation, but with will to hear your advice which could lead to behavior change,” she said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), Prof. Anastase Syhaka said that collaboration of institutions and working closely will help end the problem.
“The reason behind this meeting is to create partnership, to increase efforts in our activities as well as maintaining the way we collaborate. If problems inside families were uprooted, issues of drugs would also be weakened,” he said.
The Inspector General of Police, CG Emmanuel Gasana told participants in the meeting that drugs is a matter of concern in Rwanda and the World in general as they ruin the future of youth.
“Keeping quiet when youth are involving in drugs is not good and could bring to us many problems, besides harming lives, they cause insecurity in the country,” he said
The Bishop of Byumba Catholic Diocese, Servilien Nzakamwita said that they should also stand against people who lead youth to using drugs.
“Youth with no occupation are likely to involvein drugs, there are also irresponsible people who lead them in using drugs, we should stand against them,” he urged.
According to Police statistics, since 2013 to 2017, among people who got involved in drugs, 70% were youth between 18 and 35 years old.
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