SAHARA

Smoking & Alcohol Harms Alleviation & Rehabilitation Association
Teddy Bear Campaign on Nelson Mandela's 102nd Birthday , 18 July 2020 . 
  SAHARA South Africa, fits well into the goals of 
Community Health International Learning & Development (CHILD)
   
Community
SAHARA
  • is an organization that works in communities in the town of George, South Africa to assist people to reduce or stop alcohol, tobacco or drug use, thereby limiting the harm they cause to themselves, family and in the communities.    ​
  • reintegrates people who have been affected into the community with meaningful life.
  • advocates for better access to public health services for people with substance use disorder​.​

Statistics
  • 70% of crimes in South African communities are 
​           linked to substance abuse. 
  • 67% of domestic violence is alcohol related. ​
  • 10% of the GDP ($20 billion) of the South African   
           economy is lost due to alcohol every year.
Health 
​  SAHARA 
  • provides free medicines to treat substance use disorder.
  • facilitates community-based outpatient treatment for people who smoke, use alcohol problematically or use drugs.
  • follows a bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach.
  • ​​the treatment is evidence based. 
Statistics
  • Research found that adding medication to treatment, has increased positive outcome by up to 50%.
  • Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in South Africa.
  • Alcohol is the 3rd leading risk factor for death and disability. 
  • 61% of violent fatalities are linked to high levels of alcohol.
  • 56% of transport related deaths are linked to  alcohol.
  • ​54% of injury-related deaths involve persons with positive blood alcohol concentration and the average is double the legal limit.
International  
  • SAHARA in George, South Africa plans to implement the   ​Planet Youth Process used in Iceland.
  • This process is used internationally.
  • The first in Canada to embrace the Planet Youth process is Lanark County & Smiths Falls in Ontario. 
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​
​Statistics
  • ​​In 1998, 42% of youth in Iceland  got drunk .
  • After implementing the Planet Youth Process only 5% of teenagers got drunk.
Learning
SAHARA provides
  • training for staff and volunteer counsellors to work in clinics, schools, churches and the community to manage substance use disorder.
  • training for counsellors to facilitate support groups.
  • skills to families to participate in reducing and stopping  harm done to individuals, families and society.
  • training for doctors, nurses, community health workers and social workers in managing substance use disorder.

Statistics
  • 18-26% of Grade 1 learners in certain high-risk communities showed signs of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
  • 35.2% of Western Cape learners in Grades 8 - 11 binge drink – more than any other province.​
  • Healthcare professionals diagnosed 0% of patients with alcohol disorder in a study where 15% of actually patients had it.
Development
​SAHARA plans to implement the  Planet Youth Process  
  • A systemic approach with
    • encouragement of joint family dinners,
    • organized leisure time activities,
    • parental supervision.
  • Four pillars of Planet Youth Process 
    • Evidence -based practice
    • Community-based approach
    • Integrating research, policy and practice
    • Schools form the hub of interventions and
                     extra-curricular activities.
 
Statistics
  • Planet Youth Process in Iceland 
           reduced the percentage of 
           teenagers getting drunk 
           from 42% to 5% in 17 years

​
Dr. Hermann Reuter, the founder of SAHARA, has worked tirelessly as a volunteer physician in the George communities to develop harm reduction programs in several different locations. Medical advice plus medications are given at various clinics. Counselling in support groups is offered to restore people, who suffer from substance use disorder, to social functioning within the family and society. He has built a network of connections with medical professionals, community and church leaders, social  workers, youth workers, policy makers and volunteers to implement the comprehensive programs.
 SAHARA Team: Dr. Luvo Mbobo (physician),  Zintle Nkonyama (social worker),  Dr. Hermann Reuter (physician),  Justine Hartnick (pharmacist's assistant),  Angie Baartman (behaviour change counsellor),  Thembinkhosi Makahwa (youth organizer), 
Mr. Afrika (spiritual counsellor)
For more information about SAHARA, George and the Planet Youth Process, 
​ see below
CHILD funds medications to treat persons with substance use disorder
as these are not affordable for people living in poverty.

A full treatment course of naltraxone for alcohol use disorder costs $290 per person

Please  consider providing treatment for one or more persons in need.