Freedom Foundation in May 2011 joined forces with the Population Council Nigeria to address the health needs of drug users in Lagos, with regard to their high risk of HIV transmission through an initiative called the Men’s Health Network Nigeria (MHNN).

A project funded by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the Global Fund, MHNN seeks to ensure that drug users receive appropriate, comprehensive HIV education, prevention, counseling and testing services, given that they are one of the groups considered most at risk of contracting HIV.

The need for this kind of initiative is growing; Freedom Foundation will therefore work through the MHNN to reach out to Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Two (4622) drug users, in order to reduce the risk of HIV transmission amongst them. "We must strike a winning balance in enlightening one of our important target groups, drug users, on the consequences of drug use in relation to HIV and this project provides us  the opportunity to achieve this balance" said Mrs. Tenidola Awoyemi, the Executive Director of Freedom Foundation while commenting on the MHNN initiative and Freedom Foundation’s involvement.

In our quest to achieve social reformation in our communities, Freedom Foundation in collaboration with God Bless Nigeria (GBN), has commissioned a detoxification centre for drug users, called the Mushin Chill Out Centre (MCC). The purpose of the MCC is to help impoverished drug users through the first major step to drug rehabilitation.

Based on Freedom Foundation’s model of ‘Rehabilitation, Education and Empowerment’, the medically-based drug detoxification centre is staffed by Freedom Foundation with experienced professionals who are very knowledgeable and passionate about the project.

“At Freedom Foundation, we know that the expense associated with drug detoxification and rehabilitation can present tremendous obstacles to addicts and their loved ones; this is why we have set up Mushin Chill Out Centre. We therefore call on corporate and individual donors to help us bring to life this great vision of returning these individuals to productive functioning within their families and within their communities”. These were the words of Tenidola Awoyemi.

Freedom Foundation will be working extensively with God Bless Nigeria (GBN) to provide spiritual development and after-care for the clients so that the purpose of detoxification will not be defeated.