Executive calls for intervention programmes

THE Government needs to start providing programmes to settlements in towns and cities to educate and encourage young people to turn away from bad habits, a non-government organisation executive in Morobe says.
Director of Goodwill Development Agency (GDA) Francis Masiang said those programmes should effectively switch the attention of youths from alcohol and drugs.
“The abuse of these substances is on the rise in many urban and rural areas as well despite many approaches taken by different stakeholders over the years,” he said.
Masiang, referring to an incident that happened at Bumayong on May 11, where a village court official was stabbed and later died at the Angau Memorial Hospital, said such incidents were prevalent in the community.
“We have to find ways that can effectively minimise those issues occurring at our neighbourhood every now and then,” he said.
Masiang said GDA, in its approach, was trying to involve and train youths and educate them about the long term and short term effects of taking homebrew and marijuana.
“We will run training in some settlements and villages in parts of Lae city and Morobe targeting young people,” he said.
Masiang said discussions had been held with Huon Gulf and Nawaeb districts to conduct training under the “peer education intervention programme” for young people in the districts.
According to Masiang, most times response to problems had come about not really helping them.
“We have to think about the prevention side of it and put more emphasis to effectively address the issue,” he said.