This edition emphasises treatment demand and access to services for people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Despite progress in expanding treatment options, barriers persist, including shortages of qualified personnel, weak infrastructure, limited funding, inadequate information systems, low awareness, and governance challenges in mental health care. These constraints hinder both providers and patients in accessing effective SUD services.
The 2024 WENDU Regional Report is based on data provided by National Focal Points (NFPs) nominated by the Ministers for Health, Justice, and Interior in each ECOWAS Member State and Mauritania.
Speaking at the launching ceremony held at a local hotel in Senegambia, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, the director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission, said: “The WENDU reports repeatedly identify the regional treatment gap. To address this challenge, the ECOWAS Commission has invested heavily in capacity building, training over 200 professionals across 10 Member States on the Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC) and Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC).”
“The Commission has also financed the renovation and equipping of ten treatment and rehabilitation centres in our Member States representing an investment of approximately USD 1 million from the ECOWAS budget. This has led to reduction in relapse rates and rise in admissions for people with drug use disorders.”
“Other activities including drug sensitization programmes, distribution of educational materials and the formation of Drug-Free Clubs in some of our Member States were all informed by the WENDU Reports.”
Demba Ceesay, the director general of the DLEAG, said: “The decision to launch this very important report means a lot for us in The Gambia particularly for DLEAG. From the inception of the WENDU project sometime in 2014, DLEAG as a focal institution in The Gambia alongside the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention Unit under the Ministry of Health has been actively participating in the programs and activities of this network.”
“Our participation has helped strengthen our strategic response to the drug problem in the country with a special focus on the implementation of a balanced and integrated approach between supply suppression and drug demand reduction.”
The availability of reliable and evidence-based data on the regional drug situation, he added, is among the key objectives of WENDU. “Consequently, the findings of the WENDU reports are crucial in giving comprehensive analysis of the drug situation in our subregion including but not limited to the types and quantities of drugs seized, the dynamics of the drug use situation, advent of new psychoactive substances as well as treatment services offered for drugs and substance use disorders among other issues.”
“Therefore, the launching of the 2024 WENDU report is a strong testament of our shared values and commitment for much safer, secured, and healthier communities in West Africa.”
Abraham Mendy, the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Interior who spoke on behalf of the Interior Minister, said: “Hosting this event underscores our enduring commitment to regional cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organized crime.”
“The launching of this WENDU 2024 report represents a critical milestone in our collective efforts to provide evidence-based approaches to addressing the menace posed by substance abuse disorders especially among young people.”
“Equally, it is envisaged that the findings in this report will strengthen the development and implementation of all-inclusive policies and interventions that are effective, youth-targeted, and compassionate in addressing the menace posed by drugs.”
