The Minister of Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has made a scary revelation when he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Assurances chaired by Dominic Nitiwil, the former Defence Minister.
He revealed that over 6,000 recruits through a Medical screening had drug related issues.
Besides these numbers, there were over 1,300 with HIV status, where others had other ailments of cardio, mental and many others.
According to him, these scary figures emanate from a total of a hundred thousand (100,000) slated for recruitment into security agencies for the year ending December, 2026.
Asked if these victims were informed of their respective predicament, he answered in the negative stressing that it would not be proper to inform directly via phone.
However, they were given contact numbers to reach on for attention, and many who responded positively have already been cured of such ailments .
This is because the issue has become a national health problem.
Members suggested a segregation of such people especially the HIV victims, since this could spread easily as many people are vulnerable in the country.
The Minister was quick to assure that the government was fast fighting the menace.
He therefore urged the public to give help to such people and not to subject them to astigmatism .
Drugs in Schools:
Touching this subject matter, his Ministry, in concert with the Ministry of Education had toured many schools in the county not only to fight development but also to remedy them by way of sending them to rehabilitation centres.
He noted that in respect of this, the Ministry of Education has issued the statement that any student found indulging in drugs on campus should be dismissed outright.
Scarce salary risk of narcotics workers:
Hon. Mutaka stressed that though work of workers at Narcotics Control Commission are risky and dangerous their salaries are quite minimal.
He maintained that given the chance to work there for five times the salary of a Member of Parliament, he would turn it down.
He indicated that the government is in tune with prioritising their salaries and the welfare so as to make wealthworthy working at Narcotics Control Commission.
By S.O. Ankamah
