An NGO, House of Joy, based in the United States, has launched a pilot project aimed at addressing drug abuse and mental health challenges among youths and women in Kano State.
The organization is a mental healthcare humanitarian and advocacy group dedicated to empowering individuals and creating meaningful change.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Ronke Kayode, revealed this during an advocacy visit to Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran-Yusuf.
Kayode stated that, in partnership with Kola and Funke Foundation (KAF Care Foundation) and New Ethics for Empowerment and Development Initiative (NEEDIN), Kano was chosen for the pilot project based on recommendations from Nigerian partners.
She explained that the initiative aims to strengthen rehabilitation programs, improve mental health support services, and create sustainable reintegration opportunities for drug-dependent youths.
The project proposes a structured in-house rehabilitation model that includes psychiatric care, counseling, nursing support, and vocational training for affected youths.
“The goal is not just rehabilitation but also reintegration. We want to offer counseling, medical care, and skills acquisition programs to help young people rebuild their lives,” she said.
Kayode added that the organization plans to conduct a preliminary study involving selected participants to assess the effectiveness of the proposed intervention.
She noted that the program would focus on identifying root causes of substance abuse, such as depression, peer pressure, and other psychosocial factors.
Responding, Labaran-Yusuf described drug abuse in Kano as a serious public health issue and assured support from the ministry.
He said the ministry would form a technical committee comprising directors from pharmaceutical services, public health, medical services, research, and statistics to review the proposal and develop an implementation framework.
“We will examine your methodology, consider ethical issues, and explore how Kano State can benefit from the project and subsequent interventions,” the commissioner said.
He also mentioned that the state government is already working to revive the state committee on drug abuse control and welcomed partnerships to strengthen ongoing efforts.
Additionally, Mr. Peter Hassan-Tijani, Executive Director of NEEDIN, stated that Kano is suitable for the pilot project due to the rising challenge of drug abuse and active civil society networks working on related issues.
He praised the commissioner for granting the delegation an audience and expressed optimism that the collaboration would help reduce substance abuse among youths in the state.
