Chairman Board Of Trustees, Centre for the Advancement of Mother and Children (CEAMOC) in Katsina, Justice Musa Danladi, who doubled also as the state’s Chief Judge, disclosed this while briefing pressmen to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking, he said the center is fully determined to rid society of trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs in all parts of the state.

He explained that this year’s theme: “Breaking the stigma and promoting faster recovery” is in line with the mission of the group which is aimed at reducing stigmatization to foster fast recovery, adding that they have embarked on awareness advocacy and mass mobilization campaign with a view of reducing the menace in the state.

According to the chairman, CEAMOC is currently rehabilitating 842 drug addicts out of which, seventy-two were completely rehabilitated and empowered with different skills, some even got married.

The state chief judge further explained that chief among the activities of the center includes; community sensitization against drug abuse and trained three people from each of the 11 LGAs of Funtua Zone as community drug advisory and counseling workers; school campaign programs against drug abuse; the establishment of drug advisory and counseling centers and now, partnership with NDLEA and NYSC on public sensitization programs on the menace.

“Our center in Funtua is equipped with facilities, caregivers, and psychologists to aid quick rehabilitation of victims and provide counseling for them to easily reintegrate into society and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic wellbeing of the society.

“To quicken the process of reducing the stigma associated with drug abuse, we are partnering with traditional rulers, teachers, community and religious leaders to help sensitize families, associates, and friends of the victims to dissuade them from further abuse,” he said.

He then called on the media, civil society as well as other agents of change and public enlightenment to join the fight against abuse and illicit trafficking, as well as sensitize the public against the stigmatization of victims to foster fast recovery.

Founder of the center, the wife to the state governor, Hajiya Hadiza Aminu Bello Masari, expressed her satisfaction with the impact and the success stories of CEAMOC, adding that the center will continue to widen its scope to the entire part of the state to rid the menace.