The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has inaugurated a five-member Drug/Substance Abuse Screening Committee to strengthen efforts to combat drug and substance abuse and ensure compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on screening.
The Chief Medical Director of UPTH, Prof. Chituru Godwill Orluwene, gave the charge during the inauguration of the committee, which is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on drug and substance abuse screening within the hospital.
Prof. Orluwene said the initiative would ensure systematic screening of prospective employees, students seeking admission and other categories of personnel engaged by government institutions.
He described the establishment of the committee as a proactive response to the growing challenge of substance abuse and the need to promote a safe, responsible and productive environment.
The CMD charged members to discharge their responsibilities with professionalism, diligence, integrity and accountability.
He also urged them to embrace continuous capacity development and keep abreast of emerging trends and innovative techniques in substance abuse detection.
Prof. Orluwene further directed the committee to identify a suitable and accessible location within the hospital for screening services, stressing the need for reliable testing procedures and quality assurance mechanisms to guarantee accurate and verifiable results.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its Chairman, Dr. Michael Ogamba, thanked the hospital management for the confidence reposed in the members and pledged their commitment to carrying out the assignment with dedication and professionalism.
