National Anti-drug Committee meeting held

Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa yesterday chaired a meeting of the National Anti-drug Committee. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Education, the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, the Minister of Information, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs, the Capital Governor, the President of Customs and members of the committee of representatives of the government organisations.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister highlighted the findings of the investigation committee formed by the Cabinet about the Hamad Town Intermediate Girl School, which denied the existing of drug abuse phenomena or drug dealing network in the school. The Health Minister highlighted proposed procedures to prescribe medicines and rules to monitor pharmacies. She said that the organisational procedures would be referred to the Supreme Health Council.

She also highlighted the misuse of some medicines. The Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs briefed the committee about coordination with the Maan (Together) programme against violence and addiction to enhance the number of youth beneficiaries at sports clubs and youth centres. He also discussed the youth drug prevention programme “Takaful”.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs is preparing a second edition of the programme with the participation of 70 youth representing 35 youth centres. The Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments asserted the essential role of societies, NGOs and the private sector in enhancing awareness about the risks of narcotics.

The Education Minister discussed the community service curriculum for around 9000 students to enhance anti-narcotic awareness in cooperation with the youth centres. The Capital Governor briefed the attendees of the Maan programme that covers 173 schools and plans to cover 211 schools. The panel was informed about the media anti-drug plan that would be implemented within a timeframe. The Interior Minister highlighted the importance of the media in promoting awareness about the risks of narcotics.