The CHILD board had the privilege of inviting Dr. Hermann to join us for our meeting last month, and his enthusiasm and passion for helping those struggling with substance use disorder was certainly infectious!
Hermann shared how excited the SAHARA team is to have funding for medications through CHILD and how they are now able to start helping more people who use heroin, in addition to their work with those who struggle with alcohol and tobacco use. Though there are some treatment options for those struggling with substance use disorder in South Africa, most facilities are expensive and they are often only found in large cities.
One of SAHARA's goals is to make treatment affordable and accessible to everyone and set participants up for success in as many ways as possible, which is why their treatment program is evidenced based and follows a bio-psycho-social approach. SAHARA'S extensive on the ground experience with communities affected by substance use disorders has convinced them that medicine is essential in conjunction with taking therapy for an effective treatment, which is where CHILD comes in. SAHARA is hoping that as their strategy shows positive results, that other government and non-government organizations will see how much of a difference prevention and treatment of substance use disorder can make in order to create a vibrant and healthy community.
CHILD is so excited to continue supporting this initiative, and we need your help to do it! To learn more about SAHARA and how you can help, please visit our website.
childsociety.org/sahara-george