Seventh Batch of Drug and Substance Abuse Victims Admitted to PMTC Rehabilitation

The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Social Welfare, has admitted the seventh batch of drug and substance abuse victims into rehabilitation at the Peace Mission Training Centre (PMTC), Hastings.

The admission ceremony, which took place recently, brought together parents, social workers, and security representatives. The initiative forms part of the government’s broader efforts to address the growing challenge of substance abuse by providing structured rehabilitation, counselling, and reintegration support for affected individuals.

Speaking during the ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Jones expressed appreciation to the participants for their cooperation and willingness to embark on the rehabilitation journey. He encouraged them to remain disciplined and committed throughout the programme, noting that the centre offers a new opportunity for personal transformation. He further emphasized that overcoming addiction requires determination and collective support, urging participants to approach the process with a mindset of rebuilding their lives and contributing positively to society upon completing the programme.

In his remark, Dr Abdul Karim Mbawah of the Sierra Leone Public Health Agency highlighted that drug and substance abuse remain a critical public health challenge requiring urgent and coordinated interventions across all sectors of society. He noted that tackling the crisis extends beyond treatment alone, stressing the importance of prevention, community awareness, and sustained rehabilitation efforts to help affected individuals recover and reintegrate successfully.

Delivering her keynote address, Melrose Karminty, Minister of Social Welfare, underscored the vital role of families and communities in supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals affected by drug and substance abuse. She emphasized that recovery is not only a medical process but also a social responsibility.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment, through the Ministry of Social Welfare, to strengthening policies and programmes that promote healing, reintegration, and long-term support. She called on families and communities to stand by recovering individuals as they rebuild their lives with renewed hope, dignity, and purpose.