“I have been sober for 12 years now ... Sedqa gave me another 12 years of life. I had a lot of problems; they were solved once I addressed my alcohol addiction” – an alcoholic.

Agenzija Sedqa has held an event to celebrate its 19 years of service provision. Throughout these years, the Agency went from operating basic services to offering an array of specialised care services to individuals with a substance abuse problem and/or gambling, and to their significant others, complemented by a comprehensive prevention programme. This ensures that the Agency offers a holistic service to its clients and to the general public.

This event, held at Komunità Santa Marija complex, saw 19 ex-clients of the Agency being presented with a memento for having successfully regained control of their life and re-integrated fully into society and after managing to stay clean and sober. These 19 individuals symbolised the 19 years of operations by Agenzija Sedqa, at the same time representing clients who benefited from the different services that they came in contact with within the Agency, ranging from community-based services, detoxification services, and residential services, amongst others.

Addressing those present, Sina Bugeja (CEO of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services) thanked all Sedqa professionals who are committed to provide the Agency’s clients with the best service possible while auguring those who worked on their substance abuse problem and managed to turn their life and that of their family to the better.

Jesmond Schembri, Sedqa Operations Director emphasised the Agency’s responsibility and mission to constantly evaluate its services and develop new ones to be able to address the clients’ ever-changing needs. The most recent of such services is the Assessment & Stabilisation Unit (ASU), a new residential programme which opened its doors in the past few months, offering the possibility to clients, with the help of professionals, to identify the various factors affecting their substance misuse. Through the identification of these factors the client will have the possibility to focus more sharply on the present situation. Case management will provide the necessary tools for further assessment and evaluation for referral to the appropriate level of treatment and follow up.? 

The event programme ended with a concert by the local band Footprints, which earlier on this summer had launched a song and video called Stick No Bills, focusing on reintegration of drug users into society and about society giving them a second chance.

Present for this event were various Sedqa clients, ex-clients and their significant others, and Sedqa staff and Management.

Currently the Agency has an average of 750 clients attending daily at its Detox Centre. Another 38 persons are currently making use of Sedqa’s residential services. Between January and December 2012, 468 clients received a service within the community for their drug problem. The Agency’s Alcohol & Gambling Community team also worked with 396 clients during the same period. Both services also worked with the families and partners of most of these individuals. The Agency also offers other services which include Family and Psychological Services, Court Services, a residential detoxification programme, and a number of prevention programmes within schools, the community and the workplace.

For more information about Sedqa and its services, one may visit the website www.sedqa.gov.mt or contact the Agency on 2388 5110.