Today Stefano Berterame and Raul Martin del Campo Sanchez of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) met with Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The meeting that was held in the MOE Brickdam, Georgetown Boardroom was aimed at working out how the two parties can work together to eradicate and mitigate drug use in schools across Guyana. Further, the INCB wanted to be apprised of where the MOE is with regards to the Drug Production and Trafficking Legislation.
According to the INCB officials, such feedback is necessary so that they can proffer advice and make recommendations to the MOE where necessary.
During the meeting, it was revealed that to date, 39 teachers from 20 schools within Georgetown have been trained to integrate drug prevention training and strategies within the existing curricula for secondary schools.
In 2017 the focus was mainly on conducting sensitization sessions in schools that were vulnerable to drug use.
Currently the MOE is working out the modalities to address referral protocols and preliminary screening for students and teachers who are suspected drug users. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization are currently assisting the MOE with this process.