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{
    "id": 1340705,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1340705/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 261,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Dorothy Muthoni",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I wish to add my voice to this very important Motion. I thank Hon. Makali for bringing it on the Floor of this House. The expansion of drug and substance abuse rehabilitation centres is a must in this country. President Richard Nixon declared drug abuse as public enemy number one on 17th June 1971. Based on this, we too are aware that the right to health was recognised as a human right in the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Drugs and substance abuse are major health concerns in our country today. Article 26 of the Constitution of Kenya appreciates the sanctity of life and acknowledges the right of every person to life. Article 43(1) (a) of the Constitution says that every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare. This is what we must ride on as we think of this very important Motion. We are aware that a majority of the people who abuse drugs and substances are already sick people. Addiction treatment and rehabilitation centres in Kenya are largely a private sector and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) affair dating back to 1978. This denies people the right to prevention, treatment and control of this menace, and the provision of health-related education and information as envisaged by our Constitution. If we adopt this Motion, Kenya can make huge strides. For example, Portugal in the 1990s was known as the heroin capital of Europe. Shifting from a criminal approach to a public health one, the so-called Portugal Model, will have a dramatic result. The number of heroin users in Portugal has dropped from 100,000 before the law to just 25,000 today. Portugal now has the lowest drug-related death rate in Western Europe. To adequately address the prevalence of drug abuse, there is urgent need for physical expansion of drug and substance abuse rehabilitation centres in our country today. In addressing the approach adopted in these rehabilitation centres, I propose the need for further research to understand why more Kenyans are abusing drugs and substances. Secondly, we must develop evidence-based programmes which will effectively prevent the relapse after treatment of a drug patient. Thirdly, we need community surveillance to curb the sale of recent drinks and drugs to the young and vulnerable population. I want to stress on what the Mover of this Motion had just alluded to. We have not been able to adequately ensure that we curb this menace by ensuring that we have less outlets where these illicit drugs are sold. Fourthly, we need the enforcement of guidance and laws on the above measures. We want to look at the population-wide education to prevent alcohol and substance misuse. Then, establish youth’s sustainable livelihood programmes at county level to divert attention from drugs and alcohol. As I second this very important Motion, I urge this House to participate if we have to save our generation. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I second the Motion."
}