BY OBAKENG MAJE

SINGLE state-run inpatient treatment centre for management of people addicted to drugs and related substances has been put up in Taung hospital, North West MEC for Social Development  Fenny Gaolaolwe said on Tuesday.

“The construction of a twenty bed inpatient treatment centre at a cost of R21 million is at an advanced stage. During the construction phase, the project contributed immensely to local economic spin-offs by creating jobs to the residents of Taung,” Gaolaolwe said.

Gaolaolwe said another fourty bed inpatient treatment centre is still under construction at Witrand hospital in Tlokwe.

The two facilities, Gaolaolwe said are attached to hospitals and will be managed in partnership with the Department of Health to maximise available resources upon completion.

Senior foreman at Taung inpatient treatment, Stuurman Shomaela said more than twenty one unemployed residents from Nommer 1, Ditshilong and other villages in Greater Taung local municipality have benefited from the project during the construction phase. More residents Stuurman said  are still to be employed to do plumbing, roofing and tiling in the second phase of the project.

Research by the Medical Research Council shows that South Africans consume five billion litres of alcohol a year. In certain communities more than 30% of the men and up to 15% of the women each consume more than 30 litres of alcohol every year.

-TDN

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