This year’s theme was ‘Listen First - Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe’. St. Martin CSA and the Community Programme for Addiction and HIV (CPAHIV) department celebrated this event at Karuga centre, Igwamiti Ward, Laikipia with the First Lady Laikipia County HE. Maria Mbeneka, Deputy County Commissioner, officers from across the county, OCPD, NACADA, Recovery Tracks Center, Nyahururu Business Community among other members of the public.
The 2018 anti-drugs campaign targets teenagers, young adults, men and bar owners, a group that is particularly vulnerable to drug abuse and distribution. At this age, peer pressure to try illicit drugs can be strong and self-esteem is often low. Moreover, those who take drugs tend to be either misinformed or insufficiently aware of the health risks involved.
St. Martin’s CPAHIV Department took this opportunity to create awareness and enlighten the people of the various challenges faced by drug users through speeches and testimonials from some of the recovering addicts.