8-year-old drug abuser admitted to rehab centre

An eight-year-old child is currently receiving treatment at Victoria Falls' newly established Drug and Rehabilitation Centre, underscoring the alarming rise of drug abuse among Zimbabwean youth. The facility, located at Chinotimba Clinic, is treating four patients, including the young child, highlighting the severity of the nation's escalating substance abuse crisis.

The centre was inaugurated following a ZWG$1.8 million government contribution, aimed at providing a dedicated space for treatment and rehabilitation in the tourism city. Victoria Falls Town Clerk Ronnie Dube confirmed the centre's operational status and provided an update on its development.

"The project of the drug rehabilitation centre, which is situated in Chinotimba Clinic, is complete. We partnered with the Ministry of Health, and the Government contributed ZWG1.8 million for the project, which was a big kickstart," said Dube.

While final furnishing touches are still underway, the centre is fully functional and ready to accommodate more patients as awareness of the facility grows. "We currently have four inmates, the youngest being eight years old. We anticipate that as word spreads, we will see an increase in admissions because the problem of drug abuse in the country is significant," he added.

Dube commended the government's directive for local authorities to establish rehabilitation facilities, emphasizing that such initiatives are critical in addressing substance abuse. Efforts to obtain further clinical details from the District Medical Officer were unsuccessful, with officials citing patient confidentiality and professional ethics.

The presence of a child of such a tender age in rehabilitation highlights the urgent need for robust community-based prevention programmes to protect young Zimbabweans, even as treatment centres like the Chinotimba facility begin their vital work.