Pastor Dorcas Rigathi listed a number of measures that could boost the fight against addictions through rehabilitation of thousands of men lost in alcohol and other substances.
She termed rehabilitation an expensive exercise unreachable by most parents and those willing to get off the psychoactive substances.
Speaking at a local TV station, Pastor Dorcas urged Kenyans of goodwill to adopt-a-boy for rehabilitation and financially assist those willing.
“Most parents would like their children to undergo rehabilitation, but they cannot afford. It costs about Ksh 40,000 to 80,000 per month, and the exercise takes several month even lasting up to two years,” said Pastor Dorcas.
Depsite acknowledging her strong working relationship with county and national leaders in fighting addictions, Pastor Dorcas said it was time the Level IV, V, and VI hospitals in the country set aside a Ward for helping those in addictions.
She said that in Mombasa, following the screening of those in alcohol and drug addiction, 358 expressed interest in undergoing inpatient rehabilitation, but her program could only absorb 78.
“In Mombasa, we had 358 who desired to go for rehabilitation, but we have only been able to absorb 78. And this should not be the case. When someone expresses interest for rehabilitation, they should be absorbed immediately,” said Pastor Dorcas.
“I am working with private rehabilitation centres, and have also initiated new ones through different collaborations, but the demand surpasses the availability of rehabilitation centres,” she said.
She also called on the consideration of a budget allocation towards rehabilitation that would be incorporated in the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
Thousands of Kenyans in addiction are on a waiting list under the office of the spouse of the Deputy President (OSDP) for rehabilitation, and Pastor Dorcas sympathized with keeping them waiting for this crucial and life-changing exercise.
This week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure visited the Miritini rehabilitation centre in Mombasa run by the government. Pastor Dorcas has also visited the facility severally, and even helped in the readmission of some who underwent rehabilitation to different universities where they had dropped out.
She decried the lacing of cakes, biscuits and sweets with drugs; efforts by drug peddlers and barons to hook as many as possible at a tender age.
She, however, emphasized that she would not be silent as a generation was lost through illicit brews, second generation alcohol, and illegal drugs.
Just like the Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, she also confessed to losing relatives to addictions, and hence her passion against alcohol, and drugs, and for the restoration of the boy child.
She also wished Kenyans a happy Easter, and urged them to be responsible, spend time with their families and also remember the reason for the season.
Pastor Dorcas called on Kenyans to remember the vulnerable living among them through actions of compassion during this solemn season of the Christian faithful.
She also wished the Muslim faithful a blessed time as they continued in prayer and fasting.
