An 8-year-old girl has been admitted into a drug rehabilitation centre in Victoria Falls, sending shock waves among Zimbabweans.This deeply troubling case has cast a stark light on the escalating substance abuse crisis gripping the nation’s youth, revealing that its reach now extends into early childhood. The young girl is one of four initial patients receiving care at the centre, which is housed within the Chinotimba Clinic.
The town’s authorities have confirmed the distressing news, underscoring the severity of the situation. Victoria Falls Town Clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube, provided a sobering update on the facility’s status, stating,
“We have four inmates currently that we are attending to, the youngest being eight-years-old.” He further anticipated that patient numbers would grow, adding, “We anticipate that as the word goes that we now have this kind of a facility, we will have a number of inmates.”
A Government-Backed Response to a Growing Scourge
The establishment of the rehabilitation centre is a direct response to a governmental directive for local authorities to combat the drug menace.
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Mr Dube expressed gratitude for the crucial financial support received, which enabled the project to proceed.
“We partnered with the Minister of Health and the Government contributed ZiG1.8 million (approx. US$120,000) for the project, which was a big kick-start and we really appreciate that kind of contribution,” he said.
While final furnishing is ongoing, the centre is already operational and accepting patients.
8-Year-Old Girl Admitted To A Drug Rehabilitation Centre In Victoria Falls
The admission of a child so young points to a severe level of dependency, a concern echoed by mental health experts. Dr Loveness Ndebele, a Psychiatrist Registrar at Ingutsheni Central Hospital, provided critical context, revealing that her facility has encountered similarly shocking cases.
“We have been seeing as young as seven-years old juveniles being brought by their parents after abusing drugs,” she confirmed.
She explained that such early abuse often leads to full addiction, noting,
“So, when you see them being admitted to such a centre it means there is now an addiction, which we call dependence.”
Dr Ndebele advocated for a sensitive, multi-faceted approach to treatment for victims of such a tender age.
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“For this particular case, we need a multi-disciplinary approach where we involve social workers and child psychologists so that he gets help,” she advised, poignantly suggesting that the behaviour “could be a cry for help.”
Officials at the Chinotimba centre itself declined to comment on the specific case, citing the paramount importance of patient confidentiality and medical ethics.
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