COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE WORKPLACE COMMITTEE MEMBERS INDUCTED

Kakamega County through the Department of Public Service and Administration; Directorate of Alcoholic Drinks Control Thursday held a forum to highlight the role of Workplace Committees and Peer Counsellors in prevention and management of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (ADA) among County staff.

Addressing the Members who are staff from all the County Ministries, Chief Officer for Public Service and County Administration Dr. Dominic Muteshi who also doubles up as the Chairperson of the Enforcement of Alcoholics and Liquor Licencing Commitee said that the Government has invested heavily in training staff on the effects of ADA to foster high performance by empowering them with necessary skills and competencies thus encouraging behavior change at workplace for commendable service delivery.

“I would like you to work as a team by sharing information amongst yourselves on best approaches of controlling alcohol and drug abuse in our work places. Alcohol and drug abuse is a major obstacle to production since it affects individual personal health especially the brain hindering sound decision making,” cautioned Dr. Muteshi.

He added that the Committee has drafted a workplace policy that once adopted, will enable the it to enforce the guidelines appropriately.

County Executive Member Madam Rodah Masaviru’s message delivered by the Chief Officer informed the Members about plans by the Government to expedite operationalization of the work place policy by first diversifying ADA programs, establishing a support system for ADA victims and last but not least, creating a harmonious reform based work environment for the affected officers in order to maximize their potential in public service.

The Director Kakamega County Alcoholics and Drinks Control Unit Mr. Ben Ochomo urged the Commitee to double their effort in curbing ADA at work place which in turn will enable the Government achieve the Governor H.E Hon. Dr. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya’s vision of a competent reliant civil workforce for Kakamega County.

The County General Hospital Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer at MMUST School of Medicine Dr. Donald Kokonya called on the County Government to carry out a Rapid Situation Assessment Test to get the correct data on the number of individuals affected by alcohol and drug abuse in Kakamega County.

“The County Government should establish a surveillance system that will be a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) tool in terms of drug trafficking and also serve as a sentinel centre,” advised Dr. Kokonya.