By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kate Bih
Published on 2024-01-29 18:42:54
A 19-year-old named Amina, who once had aspirations of becoming an engineer, fell victim to substance abuse in 2017. She now wanders around Old Town in Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon, representing a major concern for authorities due to drug abuse.
In this area of Bamenda, as well as others in the region affected by ongoing armed conflict, such cases of substance abuse are common. As a result, the Bamenda Regional Hospital has established a dedicated unit called the Adolescent Wellness Center to address these pressing issues and tackle deviant behaviours.
Amina’s mother, Fadimatou, shared her struggle to help her daughter overcome her substance abuse, expressing her frustration at the unsuccessful efforts to stop her daughter from using hard drugs.
Many people have described the wellness center as a beacon of hope. Dr. Denis Nsame, the director of the Bamenda Regional Hospital, emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges faced by adolescents, as it is a neglected stage of growth.
Since the start of the Anglophone Crisis in 2016, more young people have turned to substance abuse in the English-speaking regions of the country. Efforts to address the conflict have been futile, leading to a spike in crime, drug abuse, and teenage pregnancies.
Experts believe the opening of the Wellness Center is timely, as it offers a range of services including medical care, mental health information, education, counseling, substance abuse support, sexual and reproductive health, and the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
The hospital’s leadership envisions a holistic approach to address immediate issues and empower adolescents to make informed choices for a healthier future. Parents like Fadimatou commend the hospital’s proactive stance and hope that investing in the well-being of adolescents today will contribute to the long-term stability and prosperity of the North West Region.
As the hospital’s new unit gains momentum and is inaugurated on January 27th, it serves as a testament to the community’s resilience and determination to safeguard its youth, even in challenging circumstances. The success of this initiative holds the potential to impact not only the lives of individual adolescents but also to contribute to building a stronger and more resilient society for generations to come.
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
