A regional Blue Cross centre to serve the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, will be launched in Thaba- Bosiu, next month.

The new centre will have among its activities, such duties as the strengthening of Blue Cross centres within the SADC region by collecting alcohol and drug abuse data, according to Thaba- Bosiu Blue Cross Director, Mrs 'M'atšepo Letlola.

The data would be collected in countries including, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, and Kenya. Funded by the Norway Blue Cross and Norad, the Centre will recruit six staff members, as well as a director who has already been identified.

The Centre will work in collaboration with organisations such as the Narcotics Bureau, committed to combating alcohol and drug abuse.

The Thaba-Bosiu Blue Cross Centre was established in 1989 to counsel alcoholics and drug addicts.

04 July 2005