The national community competition to curb the spread of Narcotics & Psychotropic Substances, which was launched by the Ministry of Health (MOH) represented by the Department of Community Based Initiatives, and in collaboration with the National Committee for Narcotics & Psychotropic Substances, has been evaluated today (Wednesday) at the Directorate General of Health Services, Governorate of Muscat. The assessment was commenced with the presences of the H.E Vice-Wali of Boshar and members of the Governorates’ Health Committees.

The evaluation committee assessed three projects of Muscat Governorate, which are My Health My Life – My Addiction My Prison, awareness level of parents and their realization of the drugs risks, as well as a conscious drug-free Community. 

The competition aims at strengthening the role of the Wilayat’s health committees and consequently community role, in supporting community based projects and resolving the drug-related issues, as well as developing in the community individuals the concept of voluntary work for serving the public interest.  Furthermore, it aims at underlining and recognizing the leading efforts and the effective initiatives on the field of Narcotics & Psychotropic Substances steered by individuals and voluntary groups.

The competition allows for a variety of domains for the demonstration of the main cause.  For instance, participants may carry out recreational, cultural and sporting activities with the objective of attracting the interest of youth and using their capacity in a positive manner. Such activities can further build up parents’ capacities then providing them with the skills to detect and deal with addicts. The competition can also involve field surveys and analytical research to identify the current statue of the issue, factors, and the more susceptible category to addiction in the Wilayah. Designing awareness campaigns to mitigate the problem of addiction is also included.

It is worth mentioning that this biennial competition is run with the cooperation of the health committees of the Sultanate’s respective wilaya’t.  Monetary prizes will be granted to the best projects winners on reducing the prevalence of this alarming phenomenon.

It should be noted that several projects of the Governorate of North Al Batinah will be evaluated next week which are namely “my country without drugs”, “family without drugs”, and “community without drugs” .