By Harris Gideon Mshasha and Dr. Kuduishe Kisowile
Dar es Salaam. On the 14th of July 2023, Adam Bhanji walked from his peers to the front to begin a new chapter in his life. The applause filled the room as he shook hands with Dr. Erasmus Mndeme, the Coordinator for Mental Health and Drug Abuse from the Ministry of Health who was the guest of honor for the event. He received his certificate and smiled for the picture, his eyes full of hope for the new adventure. He graduated from the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) with skills in photography.
The program was initiated after the visit of the Director of U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S CDC), Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky in 2022.
Figure 1: Adam Bhanji receiving his certificate of completion of VETA training on 14th July, 2023. From the Left, the CEO of MDH, Dr. David Sando, The Coordinator for Mental Health and Drug Abuse from the Ministry of Health, Dr. Erasmus Mndeme and the Regional Medical Officer of Dar es Salaam, Dr. Rashid Mfaume. Photo by Chediel Mziray, Dar Es Salaam.
During the visit, Dr. Walensky confirmed support for technical skills development for Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) clients. This intervention is implemented by Management and Development for Health (MDH) through the Afya Kwanza Project by providing short course training at Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) institutions. Adam is among 41 others who graduated from VETA with technical skills that will sustain their lives post Methadone treatment.
For Adam, it has been a bumpy ride after years of drug addiction and on-and-off treatment; however, things are beginning to look promising. Four years ago, Adam took a leap of faith and walked into Temeke Regional Referral Hospital and willingly asked to start Methadone treatment after years of drug abuse. He was anxious, exhausted, insecure, and bankrupt; but he knew one thing was for sure, drugs failed to fix that. He knew that because he tried for years and failed.
His woes began almost two decades ago when he first noticed skin changes on his body. His skin changed from its natural chocolate color to white patches; almost as if he was recovering from a burn injury. “I was ashamed. I could not look someone in the eyes”, he narrated. And it only got worse as the disease affected most of his body. The unsolicited questions and stares from strangers made him insecure and anxious.
He was diagnosed with vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. Despite not being contagious, vitiligo patients face mental health issues including anxiety, stress, and neglect. Vitiligo affects over 70 million people globally and has no known cure. Anyone can get vitiligo at any time in their lives, be as a child or an adult.
He began to spend most of his time indoors, however, one of his friends was concerned. He wanted his friend to feel confident and lively again but unfortunately, he led him to a dark turn. That is how Adam was introduced to drugs, from alcohol to marijuana and eventually heroin.
“I felt the sensational pleasure of drugs. It was a huge relief for me at that time. I felt born again, there was no shame in me, drugs blinded me I could not see the vitiligo that has affected most of my body. I felt relief for the first time after months”, said Adam.
A year after he began using drugs, his family noticed his new-found habit. He was shamed and discriminated against; feeling like an outcast, he left home to live alone. As years passed by, his family pled with him to seek help to no avail. Eight years after he left home, Adam went back and joined Bububu sober house in Zanzibar.
He did that only to satisfy his family. He finished the three months in a sober house and returned home drug-free; everyone was impressed.
Unfortunately, that did not last long before he went back to drug use. “Society and family were the main reason for me to go back to drugs”, he said. His family showed signs that they did not trust him and that he had stopped using drugs. He was blamed and mocked for using drugs. He was excluded from community and family affairs.
Figure 2: Adam Bhanji at the MDH booth during the World Drugs Day commemoration on 26th June, 2023. Photo by Joancen Kagombora, Arusha
As a test, his family gave him certain responsibilities to fulfill such as giving him money to feed his siblings, to see if he had really stopped using drugs. Like many people recovering from drug addictions when they are happy, anxious, or sad, they are at a higher risk of relapsing. Therefore, he relapsed.
Six years after relapsing, Adam sat down and began to rethink his life choices. He reflected on how drug use never really fixed any of the issues he was trying to mask. The anxiety and insecurity were still there, drugs only ensured that he was bankrupt too; only worsening his situation.
On that fateful day, Adam gathered himself and walked into Temeke Regional Referral Hospital; he had one goal in mind, to get help for his drug use. This is his fifth year of treatment, and he is in the final steps of completing treatment. His recovery journey has not been as smooth as a tarmac road, but it has shown the power of free will in improving one’s life.
A year after beginning Methadone treatment, Adam started volunteering to educate other people who use drugs, convincing them to join MAT and begin treatment. He volunteers whenever needed for community outreach to at-risk and vulnerable people. He is now a founder of a non-profit organization focusing on harm reduction to youth using drugs and plans to keep on helping others in their recovery journey. He is married and blessed with a beautiful child and lives a peaceful life with his family in Dar es Salaam. Adam is looking forward to putting his photography skills to use to support his family.
As the graduation winded up, Dr. David Sando, the CEO of MDH gave his remarks. “MDH has taken a bold step to plant a seed through this training. And I believe that we have opened a door for the continuance of this training to others to come”.
Figure 3: Adam Bhanji (standing first from the right) with his fellow VETA graduates after the graduation ceremony. Sitting from the left is The CEO of MDH, Dr. David Sando, The Coordinator for Mental Health and Drug Abuse from the Ministry of Health, Dr. Erasmus Mndeme and MAT manager from MDH, Dr. Elizabeth Amuli. Photo by Chediel Mziray, DSM
The Afya Kwanza project implemented by MDH with funding from President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through U.S CDC, in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Health supports MAT services to mitigate the impact of drug abuse in Tanzania.
From 2014 to date MDH has facilitated enrollment of 10,137 former drug users on MAT treatment. Currently over 4,172 are receiving methadone on daily basis at three facilities in Dar es Salaam.
MDH continues to work to support MAT clinics and community engagement to strengthen prevention, improve treatment and stop discrimination against people who use drugs. The efforts to end drug addiction and drug use continue UNTIL EVERYONE IS HEALTHY. Edited by Dr. Kuduishe Kisowile &