Monrovia – The President and co-founder of Oum El Nour Liberia (OENL), Bishop Guy Paul Noujaim arrived in Liberia, yesterday for a weeklong visit to mark the first anniversary of the establishment of the organization in Monrovia.
Oum el Nour Liberia known as Mother of Light is a non-governmental organization established by the World Lebanese Cultural Union of Liberia (WLCU) and sponsored mainly by Lebanese in Liberia. It’s geared towards preventing, treating and rehabilitating drug abusers and empowering them to make healthy choices devoid of drugs.
Bishop Noujaim was received upon arrival by Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, the WLCU President Ahmed Wazni and OEN board members as well as Executive committee members, officials and members of the Lebanese community in Liberia.
The Lebanese Eparch and Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop and WLCU President Wazni along with OEN board members are expected to meet and hold discussions with the President of Liberia, Dr. George M. Weah, and an array of government officials.
Bishop Noujaim and board members will later be accompanied by officials and executive members of the Lebanese Community to perform the official ground breaking and launching ceremonies for the construction of a rehabilitation center in Grand Bassa County.
OEN board members include WLCU Vice President Mr. Marwan Eid, Mr. Abdallah Chahni, Attorney Samuel Kofi Woods, Mr. George E. Haddad, the Liberia Medical & Dental Council, WLCU President Wazni and Bishop Noujaim, Chairman.
Oum el Nour Liberia through a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, secured 30 acres of land from the Liberian Government for the construction of the rehabilitation center.
The center, when completed will help improve the quality care services to substance users to overcome their dependency. It will focus on the causes of substance use; strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse including narcotic and harmful use of alcohol.
There are nearly 700 ghettos in Monrovia which serves as hubs for chronic drug users and strongly associated with prostitution and crime, putting children at higher risk of being drug users, according to OENL 2018 annual report.
Since its establishment in December 2018, OENL has recruited and trained several social workers and specialized educators who have conducted and established drugs prevention programs in several high schools. It has also reached over a million subscribers with prevention messages through Orange Liberia bulk SMS service.