Meeting to bring hope to families affected by drugs

CARDINAL Wilfrid Napier is inviting families affected by drugs to attend an open meeting on Wednesday evening, 30 September at the Denis Hurley Centre.

The Cardinal has also asked other church and religious leaders, including SANZAF, a Muslim organisation dedicated to social outreach. Religious leaders of different faiths acknowledge the impact that drugs have on our society and are coming together to help families deal with the growing drug problem in Durban.

At the event there will be educational talks from psychiatrists and experts on how people get into drugs, how to recognise addiction and the various methods of recovery. The experts will delve into answering the following questions: What solutions there are for families affected by drugs? What message of hope is there? How can we develop an ongoing programme of upliftment?

Guest speakers include Cardinal Napier, who recently visited the Dalton area, which has been afflicted by whoonga. “We need to talk about drug abuse now before it’s too late,” he said. He will be joined by Saffura Khan of SANZAF, who commented as the mother of a victim of drugs, “From my own experience in the community, I know how important it is to reach out to families and show that even in the darkness there is still hope.”

One of the drug survivors who will be speaking at the meeting is Mac Nqobile. “The support I got from my family made my road to recovery more manageable,” he said.

Senior representatives from other faith communities, Metro Police, SAPS and health organisations will also be present at the meeting. Families will be encouraged to voice what they want and need from government and the health department.

The meeting is hosted jointly by the Denis Hurley Centre, SANZAF, DUT Urban Futures Centre and Safer Cities (eThekwini Municipality) on Wednesday, 30 September at 5.30pm at the Denis Hurley Centre (opposite the Victoria Street Market); safe parking is available behind the cathedral.