By Oluwakemi Kindness
NDLEA has begun training more than 100 counsellors across the country to improve the quality of care for people undergoing treatment for drug and substance-use disorders.
The agency says the training will equip its counsellors with modern therapeutic skills and ensure that people seeking help at its rehabilitation centres receive more consistent, evidence-based care.
According to a statement on Friday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, the exercise began at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, and is being coordinated by the Directorate of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation.
It is the first agency-wide capacity-building programme for NDLEA counsellors in several years.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the training would help counsellors respond better to emerging psychoactive substances and cases involving co-occurring mental health disorders.
Marwa, who was represented by the Director of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, ACGN Bashir Ibrahim, said the initiative would also strengthen confidentiality, professional ethics and clinical supervision.
He said standardising treatment protocols across NDLEA rehabilitation facilities would reduce inconsistencies in service delivery and improve rehabilitation outcomes.
