Responding boldly and urgently to Sierra Leone’s growing drug crisis, Caritas Freetown and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have joined forces to intensify the fight against substance abuse, placing special emphasis on the widespread threat of Kush.
The strategic partnership was solidified during a high-level meeting between the Caritas Freetown Programs Team and senior Management of the NDLEA, led by Executive Director, Chief Andrew Jaiah Kaikai. The engagement underscored a shared commitment to collaborative solutions, community empowerment and rehabilitative care as essential tools in addressing the nation’s escalating drug abuse challenges.
Chief Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, who also serves on the Presidential Taskforce on Kush, welcomed the Caritas delegation and emphasized the need for unified national action.
“We are in a desperate situation and need all hands on deck,” he said. “This is a national crisis and strategic partnerships like this are critical to making real change.”
During the meeting, the NDLEA presented its strategic plan, which includes enhanced regulation of rehabilitation centers and a multi-sectoral approach to prevention and recovery. Caritas Freetown, a leading faith-based organization with strong community roots, expressed its readiness to contribute its expertise in advocacy, psychosocial support and public engagement.
The two organizations identified several key areas of collaboration:
- Community Outreach: Joint campaigns aimed at preventing drug abuse through education and awareness at the grassroots level.
- Youth Rehabilitation Support: Psychosocial and motivational assistance for recovering addicts, especially young people.
- Student Anti-Drug Alliance: A nationwide initiative to empower schools to educate students and serve as a frontline defense against drug use.
- Public Training and Engagement: Development of joint training sessions and media outreach to reduce stigma and promote healing.
- Civil Society-Government Synergy: Strengthening ties between NGOs and Government institutions to create a more coordinated response to drug-related issues.
The session ended with a mutual pledge to pool resources, align efforts and maintain a proactive stance in confronting the devastating impact of drugs on communities, particularly among the youth.
Caritas Freetown hailed the partnership as a “vital step forward” and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting NDLEA’s mandate through compassion, innovation and action.
“This is not a fight any single institution can win alone,” both parties agreed. “It requires national unity, courage and collaboration.”
While Sierra Leone grapples with the scourge of Kush and other dangerous substances, the partnership between Caritas Freetown and the NDLEA stands as a beacon of hope and a model for united action in addressing a growing national public health crisis.
