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Hope for Nairobians as third methadone centre planned

Currently, Kenya has only three methadone centres - Ngara Health Centre, Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, and the Coast Teaching and Referral Hospital - with Mutuini now set to become the fourth

Nairobians struggling with substance abuse in the larger Dagoretti North, South Westlands, and some parts of Kiambu County will have a reason to smile soon as the county government plans to set up a third methadone centre.

Speaking to the Informer Media Group, Mutuini Hospital Chief Executive Officer Fredrick Obwanda stated that all is set and this comes as a relief for Nairobians who depend on Ngara Health Centre and Mathaari National Teaching and Referral Hospital for the methadone clinics.

Obwanda states that the move is a sigh of relief as many of the people who use substances in the area and are suffering from addiction see Ngara and Mathaari as far hence a hindrance to the fight against substance abuse.

“Mutuini has a challenge of people using substances. A commission for a methadone clinic was done last year and we expect to open it in a few days. It will be a big rehab centre costumed for Methadone and help those struggling with addiction,” Obwanda stated.

The facility will also serve as a rehabilitation centre for the city’s western borough.

Currently, Kenya has only three methadone centres – Ngara Health Centre, Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, and the Coast Teaching and Referral Hospital – with Mutuini now set to become the fourth.

Before Mutuini, all Nairobians have been relying on then Ngara  and the Mathari facilities.

According to mental health expert Wilkister Lavi, the addition of a methadone center in Nairobi is a boost for Nairobians, especially the youth who are battling addiction.

Lavi points out that in neglect of children in dysfunctional families and hopelessness among the youth are the major causes that push them into drugs with many fighting to come out of the addiction that they get into.

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“Addiction has become very rampant, especially among young people with a lack of jobs and dysfunctional families being the main triggers leading them to abuse drugs. An addition to this centre is a boost for the community around the facility,” she stated.

“Government facilities are good in terms of charges with good services being offered with qualified staff being present. They are accessible to common Wananchi and this will come in handy for people who will be getting addiction treatment at Mutuini,” Lavi added.

Further, she called on the county government to ensure that the drugs are available at the centre as the cost of buying them outside the hospital cuts short the hope of treatment as the prices are high.

“For the government rehabilitation Centres and the methadone centres, drugs must be made available as many suffer shortage making it costly to buy get the medication in pharmacies outside the hospital,” she stated.

Methadone is often used to help people recover from opioid use disorder (OUD).

It benefits those receiving addiction treatment by lessening or eliminating withdrawal symptoms, reducing cravings, and blunting or blocking the euphoric effects of self-administration of opioids.

It strongly binds at the receptor site, essentially blocking the ability for illicit and misused opioids to exert their desirable effects, while at the same time ensuring a person doesn’t feel the onset of uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

 

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