By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
As Sierra Leone is still battling with the deadly drug called kush, one center that has stand the test of time, Dominion Reform Centre has been doing extremely well to help salvage the situation.
Dominion Reform Centre situated at Blessed Avenue, Shabro Town, Goderich has become a safe haven to recover addicted kush. Kush, a mixture of cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol, formaldehyde, and possibly ground-down human bones is a cheap and highly addictive illegal drug that has been ravaging communities in Sierra Leone.
The drug has led to a national emergency on drug abuse declared by Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio.
As the fight to reform those that are under the current deadly drug continues, Rev. Tom Blessed-Sawyer of Shalom Ministry of Bethel International Assembly, Goderich branch came with a solution through his Dominion Reform Centre solution.
Rev. Tom explained that the vision came to him when one of his instrumentalists was reported of being under the influence of kush. He said Jonathan was relocated at Waterloo at that time but he requested his family to bring him back so he can play his part.
He went on to say when he got Jonathan, he locked him in one of his uncompleted buildings, there he was treating him, praying and also encouraging him. He said through the successful story of Jonathan residents of Goderich began to come with their children to him despite he was telling them about the challenges such as proper shelter, beddings and food he is encountering they still insisted to come with their children because they are seeing the impact in other victims’ lives.
He said through prayers and teaching by him and a host of other men of God, lives have been transformed.
On to press time, Dominion Reform Centre have 48 addicted kush victims, 8 of them are female while others parents are still waiting for space to be available for their children to be enrolled as there is no enough bedding, food among others.
Jonathan, who was the first to be enrolled in to the center is now helping the team to control others while the second victim that was enrolled Abubakarr Tejan Fornah is now the driver of Evidence Pure Water Company.
Rev. Tom Blessed-Sawyer determined to do more for his people but he is currently restrained financially as what he is doing is self-funded. The 48 addicted kush victims are eating three times a day, some can even eat up to four times when their appetite increases.
He appealed for support from other likeminded people, non-governmental organization and the government as there are lots of evidence on what he is doing.
“Things are not easy; at the same time, we don’t want the potential of these youths to be wasted. One of my desired now is after the reform what will they do. Some have been going to school, some are skilled. We don’t want them to go again to the idleness that leads some of them to this,” he said.
Jonathan Cole was the first to be reformed by the center. He explained that his entire family give up on him but Rev. Tom took him in and transformed him. He has been in the centre for three months, now helping Rev. Tom and team to control others.
“Great changes have taken place in my life. I am feeling good, now guarding my friends and I pray that they too reach the stage I have found myself because kush is destroying the youths,” Jonathan said.
Haja Lama Adama Shour aka Jennifer a musician, fluent in French is currently had seven-month pregnancy, she expressed thanks and appreciation to God for the timely intervention of Rev. Tom in to her life. She explained that she went to sell kush to someone at Goderich when Rev. Tom’s wife invited her to listen to the word of God, from that time, she said her life began to changed.
Jennifer dream is to become a nurse before the kush took over her but she never gives up on her dream as she is trying to recover from the kush crisis and read to chased her dream.
“Kush, tramadol and cigarettes are no longer my friends. I wouldn’t take them again,” Jennifer said.
She also advised her friends not to take kush because it came to steal their destiny.
“My life has change, I am feeling happy. I am eating 3 times a day now at this center,” Jennifer said.
Eustacia Roberts explained how she smoked kush for 5 years. She explained further that how filthy she was when she was taking the kush and how she was sleeping with different men just to have money to buy kush.
Since she came to the center she has been reformed. She said everybody abandoned her but Rev. Tom took her in and provide food and shelter for her.
“Right now, I am happy for my life because I am feeling good. The way I am feeling now and before are two different things. I am eating three times a day. No more starvation,” she said.
Abubakarr Tejan Fornah was the second to be rescued by the center. He is now reformed and now driving for Evidence Pure Water Company. He said when he was taking the kush he was experiencing backwardness but now his life has improved. He advised his brothers and sisters to stop taking kush though it is not easy because him too have passed through such process but let them keep on the fight. He disclosed that on a daily basis they are seeing two to three burial due to kush related issues with no respect in their community.
“Kush is not good for us, please let us stop it now,” he said
He appealed to the government to put more effort as most of the youths have damaged themselves through such drug.
The manager of Evidence Pure Water Company, Pastor Lonnel Sahid Kargbo said they are working in collaboration with Rev. Tom to ensure that they reformed the lives of those that are taking the deadly kush drug.
He said the center is free and they are not asking for anything but if someone or NGO want to support them it will be a welcome gesture for them.
Through prayers and counselling they are winning the fight and the number is increasing on a daily basis at the center.
“If you can support us with matrass, toiletries, food, water among others we would be very much grateful. You can reach the center on 088760663. Capacity building is our concern after the reformed. We don’t have any support for them to be skills after the reform, please help to save the future generation,” he appealed.
