By MIRIAM ZIMBA –

ONLY a few years ago, his life was so meaningful with a well-paying job in one of the parastatal companies and children went to the best schools abroad.
In short, he could afford anything he desired.
The 56-year-old Martin Mwiinga (real name withheld) was so focused on providing for his family, social outings and drinking sprees and only comprised a negligible fraction of how he used to spend his free time.
Of course, like most people in his class, Mr Mwiinga would have occasional alcoholic beverages at functions and had a well-stocked bar at his home containing the world’s finest wines, liquors and other beverages.
He and his wife Alice Namwawa, were able to take at least two holidays abroad a year, to visit his older children who were at Universities in England, Canada and Australia.
Like many people of his social status, Mr Mwiinga was able to support various charitable causes through monetary and material donations.
The life the Mwiingas led was a source of admiration in Ibex Hill area, a plush surburb in Lusaka.
However, in what could be described as a spate of bad omens, Mr Mwiinga’s life story can be likened to that of Job in the Bible, who lost all his wealth and property in a very short period of time.
It all began with a telephone call Mr Mwiinga received from his superiors at work about four years ago.
“They called to tell me that my employment contract had been terminated, and that there was a letter to that effect,” he recounts.
It was only then that reality struck Mr Mwiinga who realised that despite having worked for more than 25 years, he still had no house of his own!. He was also highly -indebted-meaning the loss of his employment rendered him bankrupt.
“Moreover, I also had to figure out how I was going to sustain paying education expenses for my children who were in universities abroad,” he lamented.
His wife was no longer in formal employment at the time, because she had opted for early retirement in preference to being a housewife a few years earlier.
As fate would have it, life for the Mwiingas took a drastic path of decline, in a space of few months, he was forced to move from Ibex Hill, to a one roomed hut without electricity or running water at one of the nearby villages a few kilometres from Lusaka.
Because of the hardships he encountered, and perhaps driven by the need to be the provider, Mr Mwiinga took one of the oddest income-generating activities anyone could ever imagine-he resorted to charcoal burning.
At the time, even the people he thought were his friends were no longer anywhere near him, after all, he had no more luxuries and no money to his name.
Unfortunately for him, he could no longer afford the basic necessities for a decent living, let alone the refined alcoholic beverages.
All he could lay his hands on, were highly-intoxicating illicit beverages such as Kachasu, Katata and tujilijili, as a pastime activity.
“Most of the money I realised from the sale of charcoal was spent on alcohol, just to drown my sorrows,” he explained.
After living this kind of life for so long, the excessive alcohol consumption began to take a toll on his life, and more so on his health.
He began to present characteristics of mental disability, and at this time, even those who were closest to him began to shun him and mock his state of being.
Only his wife and one of his sons stood by him going to great lengths just to see him recover.
It was then that Mr Mwiinga was introduced to a local non-governmental organisation- the Serenity Harm Reduction Programme Zambia (SHARPZ).
Although SHARPZ is an NGO, it works closely with the Ministry of Health, alongside other health service providers in Lusaka, such as the Chainama College of Health Sciences in order to provide treatment, advocacy, and sensitisation and outreach programmes.
Among their core activities is the rehabilitation and restoration of people afflicted by effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
One of the counsellors at SHARPZ Helen Mwalye, explains that some of the ways to identify a person who abuses alcohol or drugs include applying what she called the Cutting down Anger, Guilt Eye opener (CAGE) test.
Sister Mwalye, a Catholic Nun specialised in psychosocial counselling explains that her organisation employs public health approach in its treatment.
“SHARPZ is not only concerned with looking at a person’s who abuses substances, but also the environment in which these people live in and the type of substance being abused.”
Sr Mwalye said both alcohol and substance abuse are generally complex and all have factors requiring individual and a well thought out programme, tailored to the individual in order to achieve better and lasting health.
Alcohol misuse is probably one of the greatest miseries in Zambia, going by the number of motor vehicle accidents, injuries, violence and risky sexual behaviours which are driven by abuse.
Evidence of untold pain and misery being experienced by individuals and families within communities dotted around the country are plain to see.
It is for this reason that SHARPZ has launched a weekly, honour long therapy session for individuals interested in tackling their problems in a confidential, professional and supportive environment where they can share their experiences regarding substances abuse.
“Think of the family situation it has a huge impact-financially, physical, mentally, even spirituality…everyone is affected when a family member is abusing it.”
“School fees are not paid, the spouse or parent cannot get to sleep until the other is home, or children for example can be forced into roles that belong to the adults in the household.
There is a lot of shame, anger and violence as a consequence. All these things must be taken into account in assessing a person’s whole context of abuse,” Sr Mwalye adds.
SHARPZ of the Capuchin Francis Missionaries in Zambia offers Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (IT-CBT).
The charitable organisation which receives no funding was founded by a Catholic priest Philip Baxter in 2007.
“In our work, we take into account the substance of abuse, the person who is missing and thirdly, their environment-that is their family, the community and society they belong to.
We recognise that substances can be a hazard when someone misuses them going beyond moderation or in way that is harmful.”
The men’s therapy group is a harm reduction which aims at helping participants’ explore their alcohol and drug abuse in a supportive environment which is non-judgmental or partronising.
Specific evidence based on practices link, triggers thoughts, emotions and behaviour and encourages participants to rethink their action.
It focuses on educating the users on the impacts, risks and harm of using substances and make healthier choices in their pursuit of recovery and sobriety.
SHARPZ offers a two week programme in which abusers of alcohol and other substances are offered three hours of everyday counselling in a programme called ‘Action for Change’.
The main aim of this programme is to educate these people on the harmful effects of the alcohol and drugs they use.
After the two weeks of information and input, then they go for individual counselling on a one o one basis.
“This is important because it helps them implement what they would have learnt. We teach them how to make their own schedules and plans.
“Apart from their daily plans, they also have short-term as well as long-term goals-what they are going to do with their lives when they have stopped abusing drugs and alcohol,” Sr Mwalye explains.
She further explains that SHARPZ has a wide diversity in its clientele ranging from people of all walks of life and various age groups, cutting across both males and females.
At the moment, the oldest client SHARPZ has is a man aged 68 years.
The adverse effects of substance abuse include breaking of marriages, divorces, school drop out, loss of employment, and it is a whole miserable scenario.
The counsellors at SHARPZ are trained psychological counsellors and trained psychotherapists that work with the people to enlighten them on how to change and get back to the normal ways of living.
The organisation basically operates on charity and goodwill from well-wishers who see the need for such a programme.
The counsellors at SHARPZ work on voluntary basis and only receive a minimal stipend.
They instead of working somewhere where they could earn a lot of money, they come together at SHARPZ to provide a service to those in need.
Sr Mwalye is of the view that it is highly unfortunate to note the increasing cases of substance abuse in the country.
“Personally I am wondering where are we headed to, where will the country be in ten year’s time. These intelligent men and women who should be boosting the economy of the country are the ones falling victim of these practices.”
“One would wonder how much output these people give at their workplaces and business environments,” she asked.
It is highly unfortunate that the practice of substance abuse is on the increase.
We are able to see that the economic performance of the country is being affected by these activities, a lot of youngsters are dropping out of school.
Undoubtedly, charitable works such as those being implemented by SHARPZ should be commended.
Today, Mr Mwiinga is on a path to recovery, he even volunteers his time at SHARPZ to offer counselling services to others afflicted by alcohol abuse.
People like Mr Mwiinga and his family, just like thousands of many Zambians have benefited from the reformation programmes offered by SHARPZ.
However, it is prudent that both public and private institutions consider partnering with organisations such as these, to ensure the effects of substance abuse does not soar towards reversing the socio-economic strides the country is recording.