On Nitijela’s first business session Tuesday August 6, illicit drugs and mental health issues were the subject of debate.
Jaluit Nitijela Member Daisy Alik-Momotaro questioned the capability of law enforcement and inquired how hard drugs flow in the country. “Where are these drugs coming from?” Daisy said.
The day prior, in her address to the nation, President Hilda Heine said the fight against drugs is a priority for her government.
Daisy also questioned the status of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services grant which is vital for providing ongoing mental health services at the Ministry of Health and Human Services, to which President replied: Since her new government started in January, “we have paid $1.3 million to SAMSHA.” This was the amount US Health authorities determined was misused and needed to be repaid by the RMI.
The RMI might be eligible to reapply for the grants with the debt cleared as required by the US, the President added.
For the past four years, the Office of Human Services at the hospital has been burdened from the absence of SAMSHA funds, the loss of which affected a majority of the services provided by Human Services for mental health needs in RMI.