Hope for ‘Zogos’

-As Health Ministry and Partners Signed MOU to Rehabilitate Drugs addicted people

An agreement has been signed between the Ministry of Health and an international humanitarian organization Oum El Nour Liberia Inc. along with the Lebanese community to initiate and strengthen the health sector in a structured and organized manner by establishing an rehabilitation program for drugs addicted people in the Country many of whom are referred to as ‘zogos’. 

In a statement delivered by Oum El Nour Liberia Inc. representative said, in order to carry forward the strategic vision of Liberia’s Pro-poor agenda through a structured and concrete partnership in the health sector as such today cannot be over emphasized.
The MoU which was signed yesterday is expected to pave the way for the cooperation in the areas of mental health, rehabilitation of drugs addicted people, capacity building and  agriculture.
According to the Organization representative, they are in readiness to offered full support for the implementation of the agreement.
Following the deliberations during the signing ceremony, the Minister of Health Dr. Wilhemina S. Jallah said they have agreed to take up the mandate to initiate and strengthen the cooperation in the health sector by establishing such a unique program in the Country.

The signed MoU aims to formalize this partnership by establishing a framework of the program.
Dr. Jallah making remark at the ceremony, welcome the establishment of the program, noting that it will help take young and old people who have become drugs addicted of the streets.

Dr. Jallah further stressed that the signing of the MoU is a major step taken to help rehabilitate people with drugs addiction in the Country.

The Liberia health Minister added that most of those illicit drugs addicted boys and girls in the streets are from good homes, noting that some are university dropouts.

“I believe that once this program kicks start in the country with these rehabilitation centers being built around the Country and they are taken there, most of them will soon charge becoming a better person in society”, the Minister of Health Dr. Wilhemina S. Jallah averred.

Dr. Jallah also stated that the organization Oum El Nour Liberia Inc. already have an existing inpatients program running in the Country.

Meanwhile, Minister Jallah welcomes the initiative by the partners, she said the program when in full operations will help with the realization of President Dr. George M. Weah pro-poor agenda for the health sector in the Country.