Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP), through the Rock-Etta James Health Center, has rehabilitated and certificated two professional musicians and producer, Tony Karbadeh (AKA Tony K) and Brite Huang (AKA Mr. Music) as ” Drug Ambassadors”.
Speaking at the certification ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace on the Capitol By-Pass in Monrovia, River Cess County’s district #2 Representative, Steve Tequah, challenged the two musicians not to go back to drug addiction.
Representative Tequah stated that drug addiction is alarming in the varied communities across Liberia, and the two drug ambassadors will help to provide the necessary education and information to prevent Liberian youths from taking in illicit drugs.
He noted that the fight against illicit drugs will require the collective effort of every Liberian, as in the disclosure of ghettoes in the communities.
He underscored the need for the Liberia Crusaders for Peace to receive allotment in the national budget to help government spread information and educate the public about the danger of drug abuse in the country.
Representative Tequah alleged that illicit drugs have taken over in every town and village, and to protect the youthful population government should pay serious attention to the fight of illicit drugs or prevent them from coming to Liberia.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace, Ambassador Juli Endee, said since 1997 the organization has been working to empower women and girls.
Ambassador Endee stated that the organization also help to spread the massage of peace, and aided during the Ebola and COVID-19 epidemics, among others, in collaboration with government ministries and agencies. She said they help in providing education for the public.
She pointed out that the rehabilitation of Karbadeh and Huang have transformed their lives, and hoped they will desist from drug abuse.
For his part, Karbadeh expressed thanks and appreciation to the Liberia Crusaders for Peace family for helping them in the process of detoxification. He called on President Joseph Boakai to declare drug abuse a state of emergency, noting that illicit drugs are destroying the youthful population of Liberia.
In a related development, the Deputy Minister for Children and Social Protection, Ministry of Gender, Children Social and Protection, Garmai Tokpah, said the fight against illicit drugs should claim the attention of every Liberia, noting that everybody has been affected.
Minister Tokpah stated that government agencies alone cannot fight drug abuse—without the cooperation and collaboration of community dwellers.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rock-Etta James Health Center, Comfort Nyevetie Cooper, said the center is intended to treat drug abusers, as well as individuals affected by other diseases.
Cooper hoped that President Boakai will a pay a visit to the Rock-Etta James Health Center in Paynesville.