The celebration also marked the opening of a new eatery and female facility for the Centre. The event was also attended by the Clergy and Religious, Staff, Management, clients and their families.
The Friends of the House of St. Francis Rehab Center is a diverse group of both Catholics and non-Catholics who share in the vision of the rehab and desire to use their resources to support the rehab and to make a difference in the lives of those struggling with substance addiction and dependency.
The group which currently has sixty-two (62) members includes engineers, military officers, police officers, health professionals, human resource practitioners, businessmen & women, insurers, marketers, and students.
Marie Victoria Mama Gzewu III, the President of the group, pledged continued support for the rehab centre. She announced that the group would adopt and furnish one of the new female halls and purchase ten (10) dining hall chairs for the centre.
She also mentioned that in the coming years, the friends will focus on advocacy for the rehab and extend their membership to other parishes and communities.
Rev. Fr. Eric Ngetea Kabenlah, the Director of the rehab centre, commended the group for their dedication and congratulated them on their first anniversary.
He expressed hope for many more collaborative efforts in the future to help the facility expand.
Fr. Kabenlah noted that since its establishment twelve years ago, the rehab center has seen a lot of development over the past years increasing its capacity of 25 people to over 100 people.
He appealed to all friends and benefactors of the rehab to support the centre acquire a minibus to facilitate conveying clients to referral centres and external counselling meetings which is important for the 12-step recovery.
Fr. Kabenlah emphasised that substance addiction like any other chronic disease is challenging and expensive to manage and that individuals struggling with addiction should be supported rather than stigmatised.
The membership of the Friends of House of St. Francis Rehab Centre is open to individuals who desire to make a difference in the lives of those struggling with addiction and dependency.
From Justine Adzo Avevor
