Sierra Leone: A Ballooning Drug Problem

I found this news article off of allAfrica.com. The article did not mention who wrote it but it was published on April 7th, 2010. Nearly 30 people trying to overcome cocaine, marijuana, heroin, alcohol, locally known as the "brown-brown" are on a waiting list to get into Sierra Leone's only drug-rehab center, 'City of Rest', in Freetown.

"It's terrible, and the need has increased so much parents come with their children and we have to refuse them for lack of space," said Morie S. Ngobeh. He also stated that the drug problem is increasing daily. The center only holds room for 40 patients. Kellie Conteh stated, "This feeds into local consumption; our youths, who are out there in their thousands, unemployed and poor, they get into this, and the more of them who get into this habit, the closer we will get to a catastrophe that will be very difficult to handle."

Most users are poor and will do anything to support their habit. Crime is becoming a huge issue. The youth want money to buy these drugs and they will stop at nothing. Only 3 of the 40 residents at the facility came voluntarily, the others were all brought in by the police or family. The center works with its patients for two weeks and then releases them with something to do, while staying in contact. Joe told IRIN, "We are all skilled workers here ... But there is no work. Youths use marijuana to ease their minds."

The government needs to tackle this problem before it gets to out of control. Its a very serious situation and these people need help! I wonder how all this started. Where did all the drugs come from? How can the people selling the drugs not get caught and put in jail? The whole situation is an eye opener of what reality is in Africa. These people need help before its too late.

Is This the Hungriest Place on Earth?

I found this news article on BBC World News. It was written on Friday April 2nd, 2010. The article was written by Andrew Harding about the town of Akobo. Akobo is now the "hungriest place on earth" according to aid officials after a survey. The survey showed that 47% of the children under 5 are malnourished. The towns hospital, which is falling apart, holds the most serious cases. Children lay on beds in anguishing pain as their mothers try to feed them. "The situation is not good" said Bernadette Tata, a nurse in the Akobo hospital. "But we can cope."

This picture is of a mother struggling to feed her child.

The World Food Programme estimated that over half the population will need help at some point this year. Save the Children, an organization working in Akobo, warned of this problem ahead of time. "In a region where a 15-year-old is more likely to die in childbirth than she is to complete primary school, life will remain tough for many years to come," said Kate Foster. The region has been involved in a civil war for 21 years with the North. In January 2011, the South is expected to vote for full independence. This is just a taste of the problems to come for the region.

Picture courtesy of BBC World News.