Drug addicts escape from rehab over food shortage

Less than a month since the government ordered for a crackdown on drug dens in Mombasa, 25 of the 150 drug addicts who had surrendered to the authorities have since returned to their old ways over alleged lack of food at the rehabilitation centers.

Fadhil Omar, a drug addict from Kisauni Sub County, claimed that he was among over 20 addicts who had surrendered to police but sneaked out of a local rehab center following lack of medical attention and food.

“There is no food, no medicine and all they do is injecting us. You wake up hungry and they ask you for money to buy you food. At times just inject you,” he said.

Omar added that politicians only go to woo them with words and make them believe they want to be of help but no action has been taken to improve their welfare and lifestyle.

The addicts were being accommodated at the Coast General Hospital where they escaped by jumping through the window in a bid to save themselves from hunger. In the process of escaping, some addicts got injured.

Speaking to journalists after visiting government rehab center at Coast General Hospital and other slum areas affected by drugs in the county NACADA directors Charles Njagua ‘JAGUAR’ , and Sheikh Juma Ngao, said they were shocked to establish that all surrendered drug addicts were back to the streets.

Mr. Juma said that the drug menace in the coastal region is not taken seriously like in other areas. He urged the government to make an effort and go back to Mombasa and open a rehabilitation center where all the drug addicts could be accommodated. 

Despite President Kenyatta’s directive recently that all Coast leaders join hands in the fight against drug menace, nothing tangible has been reported compared to the crackdown on illicit brews and second generation alcohol two months ago.

On the other hand, the drug addicts also claimed that the number of drug users in the region was on the rise following introduction of free syringes, a matter that is putting them at a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
“Since the hospitals are giving free syringes, some of the addicts who were not injecting themselves are being tempted to try it,” another victim said.

Report by Patrick Kanga / Written by Jemimah Gathoni