25-07-2000 21 south African mayors to attend the Doctors For Life Drug
Conference in Pretoria this weekend.
The organisation, Doctors For Life (DFL) will facilitate the establishment of
South African Cities Against Drugs (SACAD) during its National Drug Conference
this coming weekend in Pretoria.
In a firm show of determination against drug abuse, 21 mayors of the largest municipalities
in South Africa accepted DFL’s invitation to attend the 2 day conference
which will be addressed by several international speakers, including Dr Wim Jurg,
Representative of European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD).
DFL, however, was disappointed when the mayors of 3 cities, with some of the worst
drug problems in South Africa, (according to the Medical Research Council’s
study by Dr Charles Parry) declined the offer to attend the launch of SACAD, free
of charge.
Pretoria and Centurion are particularly enthusiastic following the recent disclosure
of 8 children dying of drug overdose in that area. A generous financial contribution
by the Greater Pretoria Safety and Security Association (under the chairmanship
of Mr Naiker) towards the launch as well as the establishment of a well-equipped
and connected control room in Centurion have set the example for other cities.
More than 130 delegates from 30 European countries attended the recent two-day
European Cities Against Drug Conference in Cork.
ECAD is Europe’s leading organisation promoting a drug-free Europe and representing
millions of citizens in many European Cities. Drug dealing and drug abuse cause
enormous problems in Europe as well as here in South Africa. Nations and their
citizens are affected by the consequences of drug abuse.
ECAD (and possibly SACAD) work to develop initiatives and efforts against drug
abuse, supporting the United Nation Convention’s which oppose legalisation
and promote policies to eradicate drug abuse worldwide.
In an interview last week, Mr Torgny Peterson, CEO of ECAD, said to Heinrich Botes
of Doctors For Life that ECAD’s vision is to establish an international network
of Cities Against Drugs. He was extremely delighted and supportive of the DFL
initiative in South Africa. After the conference and launch of SACAD, a declaration
will be issued to enable towns that have not participated in the conference to
support the initiative.
