Seithati Motsoeneng
DESPITE the high rate of substance abuse in Lesotho, the country remains critically short of specialised doctors qualified to treat drug addiction.
The Director of the Lesotho Schools Early Detection and Treatment of Addiction Programme, Teboho Bulane, said lack of specialised personnel in substance abuse treatment severely hampered the country’s ability to combat drug addiction.
This he said during a recent stakeholder roundtable on substance abuse and treatment at Mohlomi Hospital?in Maseru.
Dr Bulane said the absence of substance use specialists in Lesotho was a major barrier to effective treatment. The country currently has only three doctors specialising in substance abuse treatment, a number he said was grossly insufficient to meet the needs of the population.
He said while there was a pressing demand for state-owned rehabilitation centres, the crisis was exacerbated by the shortage of doctors trained specifically in drug treatment.
“I am aware that some drug-addicted patients are sometimes admitted to Mohlomi Hospital, but there is a high chance that many are misdiagnosed or improperly treated, as the doctors handling them lack the necessary expertise,” Dr Bulane explained.
He?said?Lesotho faced a significant crisis in drug use and mental health, yet it remained the least specialised country in the region in terms of addressing these issues.
“Countries like Eswatini and Botswana have numerous specialists in drug use, even though they do not face the same level of need as we do,” he lamented.
Dr Bulane attributed the limited number of specialists to the high costs of unsponsored courses required to attain super-specialist status in drug treatment.
“It’s hard to justify using family income to pursue training in a field that the government itself does not see as a priority,” he added.
He also argued that there was no one at the ministry level qualified as a super-specialist in drug use issues.
As the first person in Lesotho to attain specialist status in drug treatment, Dr Bulane expressed his deep concern about the growing drug problem among the youth.
“Day by day, our generation is getting caught in the spiral of drugs, and someone needs to take a stand to stop this scourge,” he said.
He shared a troubling anecdote about encountering a Grade 3 student who was already addicted to smoking.
“During our school outreach program for early detection and treatment of addiction earlier this year, over 30 percent of students, both in primary and high school, were found to be using substances,” Dr Bulane said.
Social Cluster Committee Chairman, Mokhothu Makhalanyane, echoed these concerns, describing the drug problem among the youth as deeply troubling for the country’s leadership.
“It’s disturbing for the government to witness this, as it suggests that we may not have a sober generation in the future,” Mr Makhalanyane said.
He added that the situation is so dire that in some schools, more than 40 students were found to be using drugs, a fact that is alarming to school principals.
“This suggests we are on a path to having high parliamentarians, and I suggest that we may need to shut down the entire Maseru for a day just to address the issue of drug use,” he added.
Lance Seargent Makarabo Mahula, from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service’s office of Diamonds and Drugs, highlighted a significant gap in the country’s approach to drug addiction.
“While there is a plan of action for drug dealers, there is nothing constitutionally in place for addicts. This means we are neglecting a crucial aspect of the drug problem, as dealers will continue to operate as long as there is a market for their products,” Lance Sgt Mahula said.
She urged the government to take decisive action in treating drug addiction to ensure?sober?future?generations.