Grand Bassa Launches Outpatient Screening Hub to Combat Youth Drug Abuse and Support Rehabilitation Efforts

By: Elijah Easter Kaykay

Grand Bassa County has taken a major step in Liberia’s fight against drug
abuse with the launch of a new outpatient screening hub, targeting at-risk
youth and supporting national rehabilitation efforts.

The facility is located near the Red Cross County Office, behind the Liberia
Land Authority building on Robert Street in Buchanan.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Grand Bassa County Superintendent
Karyou Johnson, who reaffirmed the county’s commitment to battling substance
abuse. In his remarks, Superintendent Johnson emphasized the devastating impact
of narcotics on Liberia’s young people and called for stronger community and
parental involvement.

“We cannot fight this battle alone,” Superintendent Johnson said. “We need
parents, communities, and leaders working together to bring our youth back from
the edge.”

Accordingly, the Superintendent noted that the initiative aligns with
President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Sr.’s declaration of a national health
emergency on drugs and substance abuse adding that the campaign is designed to
rescue vulnerable youth and prevent others from falling into addiction.

The outpatient screening hub will be managed by the Ministry of Health’s
National Drugs and Substance Abuse Program (NADSAP). Health screenings for
at-risk youth will take place twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays to assess
medical conditions and determine the need for further care.

Those identified as needing rehabilitation will be referred to the Mother
of Light Rehabilitation Center located in German Camp, Grand Bassa
Electoral District #2, where they will receive more intensive support and
treatment.

Cellian Fahncole, Mental Health Coordinator for the County Health Team,
highlighted that the program will run for an initial nine-month period. He
called for sustained support from both county and national stakeholders to
ensure long-term impact.

“This initiative is just the beginning,” Fahncole said. “We need ongoing
commitment from all sectors to make a lasting difference.”

The launch event drew broad participation from local and national agencies,
including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Liberia
National Police Grand Bassa Detachment, SOS Children’s Villages, the Liberia
Government Hospital, the Mother of Light Rehabilitation Center, and various
media institutions.

Participants voiced shared concern over the visible presence of drug
addiction in local communities and emphasized the urgency of integrated,
long-term solutions.

The County Health Officer, Dr. Jude G. Whesseh, and his mental health team
received high praise for their leadership and dedication in pushing forward
this critical initiative.

The outpatient screening hub symbolizes a renewed, coordinated effort to
combat the growing issue of substance abuse in Liberia. For Grand Bassa County,
it marks a hopeful step toward healing, dignity, and a healthier, drug-free
future for its youth.