Online Reporter
Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO Province has marked a significant milestone in the fight against drug and substance abuse with the certification of its inaugural cohort of community volunteers trained as lay counsellors under a Basic Counselling on Drug and Substance Abuse short course.
The volunteers are graduating today with a colourful ceremony being attended by a cross-section of stakeholders drawn from Government departments, local authorities, health institutions, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, community representatives and anti-drug abuse campaigners.
The training programme was designed to equip community members with basic counselling skills to identify, support and refer individuals battling drug and substance abuse, which has emerged as one of the country’s most pressing social challenges.
Officials have hailed the initiative as a critical step towards strengthening community-based interventions and expanding access to psychosocial support services at grassroots level.
The lay counsellors are expected to serve as the first point of contact within their communities, offering guidance, emotional support and referrals to professional services where necessary.
Stakeholders noted that communities continue to bear the brunt of the drug and substance abuse scourge, with increasing cases of school dropouts, family breakdowns, mental health challenges and criminal activities linked to substance misuse.
They said empowering volunteers with counselling skills would help bridge gaps in access to support services while enhancing community awareness, prevention and early intervention efforts.
The certification comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to combat drug and substance abuse through a multi-sectoral approach involving Government ministries, law enforcement agencies, health professionals, educational institutions, community leaders and development partners.
derick.khumalo