UBTH CMD Seeks Edo Assembly’s Legislative Support to Curb Drug, Substance Abuse

By Rosemary Okoduwa

The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, has called for urgent legislative action to address the rising incidence of drug and substance abuse in Edo State.
Prof. Ize-Iyamu made the call during a courtesy visit by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Rt. Hon. Yekini Idiaye, to the hospital.

The CMD urged the state lawmakers to consider legislation mandating drug testing for job applicants and students in state-owned secondary and tertiary institutions as part of measures to curb substance abuse among young people.

She also highlighted UBTH’s newly commissioned state-of-the-art Drug Testing Centre, noting that the facility was established in response to the growing prevalence of drug and alcohol addiction and the increasing use of psychotropic substances in the state.

According to Prof. Ize-Iyamu, “The reason we decided to come up with the drug testing centre at UBTH is because of the scourge of drug addiction and alcohol addiction. The use of psychotropic substances is on the increase in Edo State, and it is constituting a menace.”

She disclosed that some of the first persons to test positive at the centre were below 20 years of age, stressing the need for preventive measures to protect young people from the consequences of addiction.
“It’s more difficult to treat addiction than to prevent it. When addiction is chronic, it becomes a problem to society. It becomes even more of a problem when it affects the young ones,” she said.

The CMD called for a stronger partnership between UBTH and the Edo State House of Assembly to promote drug testing, targeted interventions and collaborative rehabilitation programmes for affected youths.

She further identified other potential areas of collaboration between UBTH and the state legislature, including specialised diagnostic and laboratory services and other healthcare initiatives that could directly benefit residents of Edo State.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yekini Idiaye, said the visit was aimed at exploring areas of partnership and collaboration between the Assembly and UBTH.

Idiaye emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Edo State Government and UBTH, adding that the visit formed part of his engagements with federal institutions across the state towards supporting sustainable development.

Accompanying the Speaker were the Majority Leader and member representing Esan South East Constituency, Hon. Sunny Ojiezele, Deputy Chief Whip and Chairman, House Committee on Health, Dr. Richard Edosa and member representing Akoko-Edo II Constituency, Hon. Donald Okogbe.