Social Development MEC urges Limpopo to fight against human trafficking and drug abuse
To help create awareness around issues relating to human trafficking and drug abuse, the MEC for Social Development, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana urges the province fight against human trafficking and drug abuse.
POLOKWANE – “Our country, as a member of the International community, joins nations of the world on this day to heighten awareness on the negative effects of substance abuse to the economy, social institutions and welfare and to our geopolitical infrastructure. We seek to galvanize communities and institutions to jointly take steps to combat substance abuse in a coordinated manner,” she explained.
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She added that as a province, we need to collaborate with various institutions across government and also work with non-governmental stakeholders in line with our Provincial Drug Master plan aiming to fight the social ill through the approaches such as:
– Demand Reduction which refers to efforts to reduce the need to for substances through prevention initiatives that includes educating potential users and imposing restrictions on the use of substances.
– Supply Reduction where we employ policies and programs aimed at stopping the production distribution and use of drugs, especially law enforcement activities aimed at reducing the supply of illicit drugs.
– Harm Reduction; referring to strategies and activities aimed at limiting, mitigating or bettering the damage caused to individuals and communities who have already succumbed to the temptation of substance abuse.
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was declared on 7 December 1987 by the United Nations General Assembly, whereby a resolution was passed that June 26 of each year shall mark the efforts of society against this multinational problem. This was prompted by the realization that drugs pose a serious threat to sustainable human development. Drugs destroys lives and generate crime that if left unchecked, threatens and reverses democratic and developmental gains achieved through the sacrifices of so many with others paying the supreme price for their attainment.
“I therefore take this opportunity to challenge all and sundry to play a role in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The future of our communities and the nation depends on this fight, we must triumph and that we can only do together,” she concluded.
