'Drug prevention works'

THE National Anti-Drug Association of Brunei (Basmida) is aiming to provide leadership in the prevention of drug abuse as the organisation as well as the country believes in prevention, said Datin Hjh Masni Hj Mohd Ali.

The Basmida President told The Brunei Times this after taking the position as the new President of the International Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations for the Prevention of Drugs and Substance Abuse (IFNGO) yesterday during the closing ceremony of the 23rd IFNGO.

"We are going to spread the message globally that drug prevention works," said the new IFNGO president.

Datin Hjh Masni said some countries are practising harm reduction movement which can sometimes confuse the terminologies.

Earlier in a speech, she said that there was no area where drug prevention was more true than addressing the problems of drug abuse, in which she lauded the effort of the IFNGO in spreading the message to the world.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 23rd IFNGO, Dr Kevin Abraham Sabet, a drug expert from the United States who was also a guest speaker during the conference, commented that the conference was well-organised and a wonderful opportunity for NGOs to confront new challenges and implement best practices.

Supporting Datin Hjh Masni's comment, Dr Sabet said: "If implemented correctly, it is the shortest route out of problems... and by far, the most cost effective method."

Former President of IFNGO, Arch Nuno Maria Roque Jorge said that it has been a great privilege to have served the IFNGO and wished the new president all the best.

"It's not an easy job, it's time-consuming and involves worldwide contacts like the United Nations," he said, adding that the new IFNGO president should not be discouraged by any difficulties encountered as she will have all the support needed from everyone.

Garth Popple, executive director of the Australian National Council on Drugs and chief executive of We Help Ourselves (WHOS), wished Datin Hjh Masni all the best and expressed his confidence that she would be able to deliver outstanding work during her duties as the president for the next two years.

"It's a good vehicle to be under an umbrella that unites all the NGOs," he said on sharing his 20 years of experience with IFNGO. (AFS1)

The Brunei Times