Topic:
Country: Niger
Delegate Name: Avery Messamore
Committee: ECOSOC (WHO)
Topic: Substance Abuse
Country: Niger
School: Mattawan High School
Delegate: Avery Messamore
Substance abuse pertains to the dangerous consumption of drugs. This is an issue that not only affects the individual but their family and society as well. Niger is a common trade route for drug trafficking which inevitably has led to higher consumption of cocaine in the country. Cannabis is also widely used throughout West and Central Africa, with usage rates from 5.2% to 13.5%.
To combat health issues, Niger has encouraged the creation and use of health-related startups and telemedicine. Telemedicine is a means of delivering healthcare diagnostics and support through technology, such as video calls or audio calls with patients. Niger has in the past signed an agreement with UNAIDS to prevent and stop the transmission of HIV. With the support of The Global Fund Niger has implemented HIV testing, especially for infants, in health facilities. Currently, only 1% of Niger’s population has HIV. Niger has implemented training on how to treat tuberculosis and HIV at one-stop facilities, thus helping reduce the spread of these illnesses.
Niger is willing to continue working with international forces in order to crack down on drug use and related illnesses. By training healthcare providers on how to treat severe illnesses, such as HIV and tuberculosis, they will be better equipped to diagnose and treat the public; therefore, the disease rate and prevalence will decrease. Niger would support making healthcare and treatment more accessible to the public domain, for many citizens are either unaware that they have deadly viruses or don’t know where they can go for help. Once the public has further access to treatment then the spread of the virus or disease will diminish.
References:
https://www.afro.who.int/news/innovating-health-niger
https://www.afro.who.int/node/5696
https://africa.ocindex.net/country/niger#:~:text=The%20trafficking%20of%20cocaine%20through,trafficking%20route%20for%20Moroccan%20kif.
https://borgenproject.org/nigers-hiv-aids/#:~:text=Niger%20is%20a%20landlocked%20country,2003%20to%20651%20in%202012.
https://www.afro.who.int/countries/niger/news/combined-hiv-tb-testing-care-curbing-infection-and-mortality-niger
