On Tuesday, 07 August 2018, Mayor Herman Mashaba and Member of the Mayoral Committee MMC for Health and Social Development, Dr Mpho Phalatse, opened the Joubert Park Community-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Centre in Johannesburg Central.
This treatment centre is the fourth facility of this nature that the multi-party government is launching. The most recent ones were the Golden Harvest In-patient Treatment Centre, as well as the Eldorado Park Community-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Centre.
The opening of this centre is in line with the City of Joburg’s Health and Social Development integrated strategy to eradicate substance abuse and other related social ills.
R30 million in operational expenditure and R12.5 million in capex has been allocated to the Department of Health and Social Development to expand the number of Community Substance Abuse Treatment Centres to 8 by the end of the 2018/19 financial year.
These centres render the much needed outpatient rehabilitation services to users, their families and the community. Since the launch of the Tladi facility, there has been an increase in the number of intakes who were enrolled on the outpatient treatment programme.
Between April and June 2018, 243 new intakes who want to break the cycle of substance abuse sought services from the Tladi and Eldorado Park Community-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Centres.
In an effort to provide for an integrated and holistic focus on the wellbeing of communities, ensuring preventative as well as curative health services across all age groups, the City has a 24-hour Substance Abuse Crisis Line called Ithemba, which is situated at 28 Harrison Street, Marshalltown in central Johannesburg. The toll free service provides 24-hour access to professional assistance, tele-counselling services, containment of emotions and feelings, referrals to support services and home visits.
As a result of an increase in the number of children dropping out of High School, Ward 59 is faced with a high unemployment rate, crime and drug abuse.
“I must admit that I was absolutely shocked to discover that there are no less than 18 bottle stores and numerous other such establishments dedicated to selling alcohol in this one single ward”, said Mayor Mashaba.
The Mayor also called on residents of Joburg to work closely with the metro police by identifying peddlers and those who make a living by manufacturing drugs. He said criminals and those who bring drugs into the country should face the full might of the law.
MMC for Health and Social Development, Dr Phalatse assured the residents of Joubert Park that the relocation of Joubert Park Clinic to Esselen Street Clinic was made with the communities’ best interest at heart. She said Esselen Clinic has the space and capacity to offer a full range of health services as compared to Jourbert Park Clinic, whose development was hampered by the park being a heritage site.
“I personally walked from Esselen Street Clinic to Joubert Park to determine the distance and I can assure you that the distance between the two facilities is less than a 10 minutes’ walk” said Phalatse, adding that the broader community will benefit for having a Community-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Centre along a busy transport corridor.
Johan Robyn from the Outreach Foundation commended Mashaba and Phalatse for walking the talk in dealing with the scourge of drugs in the city. Robyn and other invited guests called on Mashaba to continue his war on drugs.
The City will later in this month open the River Park Clinic Community-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Centre in Alexandra.
As a City, we will work hard to ensure that we provide services that allow those struggling with addiction, especially the youth, a second chance at life.
The Ithemba toll free number is 0800 223 217.