The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have launched a two-week refresher training for healthcare professionals on the Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC) for drug addiction. Starting Monday, September 9, 2024, at the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Kissy, East Freetown, this program aims to advance drug addiction prevention, treatment, and management in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Daniel Amankwah, Principal Program Officer for Drug Prevention and Control at the ECOWAS Commission, explained that the UTC course includes eight modules that cover various aspects of substance use disorder treatment, designed to offer a thorough understanding of addiction treatment science and practice. The training is intended to enhance the knowledge, skills, and competencies of treatment professionals, promoting evidence-based practices to improve service delivery and treatment outcomes.
Previously, in November 2021, ECOWAS trained 27 healthcare workers in Sierra Leone, covering seven of the eight modules. This training will complete the remaining Module 5 and include credential examinations for participants.
As part of the Colombo Plan, the UTC program is nearing completion, with 211 regional healthcare professionals trained so far. Dr. Amankwah noted that this is the final phase, with only one member state left to be covered.
The training structure includes:
- Physiology and Pharmacology (20 hours)
- Treatment for Substance Use Disorder (33 hours)
- Common Co-occurring Mental and Medical Disorders (33 hours)
- Basic Counseling Skills for Addiction Professionals (33 hours)
- Screening, Intake, Assessment, Treatment Planning, and Documentation (33 hours)
- Case Management for Addiction Professionals (13 hours)
- Ethics and Crisis Intervention (33 hours)
- Module 5 (33 hours)
Abdulai Jalloh, Consultant Psychiatrist and Focal Point for the West Africa Epidemiology Network on Drug Use, emphasized the training’s significance and encouraged participants to focus on achieving the desired outcomes, promising professional certification recognized regionally and globally.
Looking ahead, Dr. Amankwah announced that ECOWAS will introduce a regional drug addiction prevention training program in 2025, which will also benefit Sierra Leone.
