The Minister of Gender and Family promotion, Jean d’Arc Mujawamariya, yesterday, cautioned Primary and Secondary School students against indulging in illicit drug abuse, so as to grow up as responsible future leaders.

Mujawamariya made the caution while addressing parents, teachers and students at Gicumbi stadium, during the official launching of anti-drug abuse campaign week.

"Consumption of illicit alcoholic drinks and drugs greatly ruin one’s health and is the root cause of gender based criminal acts,” said Mujawamariya.

She further called on parents to take time to sensitize their children on the dangers of drug abuse, adding that illicit drugs and alcoholic drinks consumption results in mental disorders and lung related diseases among the youth.

Also related to the campaigns, Solina Nyirahabimana, The Minister in the Office of the President, told the youth in Karange Sector, Rwamagana District to avoid drug abuse and its related dangers.

She said that recent nationwide statistics show alarming figures of drug abuse.

"It is a sad reality that 27% of the patients in Ndera Mental Hospital trace the cause from abuse of marijuana.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sam Karemera, said the majority of crimes in the Eastern Province, are exacerbated by abuse of drugs.

He, however, said that abuse and trafficking of drugs, particularly marijuana, has been on the decline due to the vigilance of police and other stakeholders.

"More than half of the crimes in the province are related to marijuana smoking and drinking illicit alcohol known as Kanyanga. We have to keep pushing hard, until we register zero abuse and trafficking of Kanyanga,” he said.

race Bahati, the reigning Miss Rwanda, also added her voice to the campaign. She urged the youth of Rubavu District to desist from drug abuse and instead engage in developmental activities usefull to the country.

She called upon all stakeholders in the country to join hands and fight drug abuse among the youths, especially students.

Johnson Sesonga, Rubavu District Police Commander, said that Rubavu comes third in the country in drug abuse and that 90 percent of the crimes committed countrywide are due to drug abuse.

Sesonga said that it requires much more effort for Rubavu District to fight the abuse of drugs because of its borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo which does not have much regulation against drug abuse.

"We request everyone in society to be on the lookout and report suspects since they live with us and we know where these drugs are hidden and who uses them,” said Sesonga.

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