Maria Sciberras, a pioneer in the fight against drugs and raising awareness on the issue, has died, aged 75.

A former health superintendent at St Luke’s Hospital, Dr Sciberras had set up the detox centre.

She organised and set up services for drug dependants in Malta and Gozo and as part of the Caritas Group she dedicated all her energies and initiated extensive drug awareness programmes.

In 1989, she was named worker of the year in 1989.

She was married to Raymond Sciberras, a medical doctor and had a son and a daughter.