NGO plans to prevent drug abuse, HIV/AIDS

In a bid to protect the youth from drug abuse and to prevent an outbreak of HIV/AIDS and TB epidemic in Bodija market community and its environs, concerned churches in the area and the community have kicked off a 5-year intervention programme to tackle the problem.Pastor Tunji Agboola, Executive Director, Goodworker Ministry International, a non-governemental organisation collaborating with Glory Tabernacle Church, Bodija Ojuirin, Crown of Glory Gospel Ministry, Bodija Ojuirin on the project, stated that findings revealed an impending potential for an outbreak of HIV/AIDS and TB epidemic as well as drug abuse complications like psychosis and serious drug addiction.According to him, the food for boys and girls initiative of the Glory Tabernacle had been feeding desolate children in this area and relief them of their hard drug abuse problems.Dr Agboola remarked that the need to combat the cause and the consequences of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS among youths and others in the community was imperative, especially with the presence of long distance drivers and the area becoming a railway terminus.He declared, we want them to live healthy lives and not spend the proceeds of their occupation  on treatment of diseases. For instance, in those small and poorly ventilated building in this community, TB can easily spread.Dr Agboola, observing that Bodija markets high commercial activities did not afford the traders the time to care for their health, said that the project intended to educate them about their health to ensure higher productivity and help youths in the community to get employed through the National Directorate of Employment.According to him, we intend to train and empower the community members; a leisure management programme for children going to school to cater for children of traders that are busy with selling and buying; as well as introduce commercial sex workers and those trading in hard drugs to alternative trade.Baale Onipako, Chief Ebenezer Agboola, praised the initiators of the project for their effort to help members of the community to leave a healthy life.Already Mr Oludare Johnson, a 41-year-old father of four, who had commenced treatment on drug, lauded the initiative which he said had given him hope of another future.Also Mr Adeyinka Temitope, a secondary school leaver, who through peer influence, smokes hemp, drinks alcohol and patronises  commercial sex workers, declared, since my involvement with the group, things have not been the same with me and already, I have been inviting my friends to join. When the rehabilitation is over, I intend to go back to school and become a computer engineer. 
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