Dar es Salaam, July 1 -- KHADIJA Yussuf, famous as 'bingwa,' a Kiswahili for champion, is celebrating her third year after abandoning using illicit drugs. She was an addict for seven years.

"I am happy to be free from the addiction," she says. She says drugs, reckless unprotected sex, and being homeless, put her on risk of contracting HIV and other sexual transmitted infections.

The 33-year old woman is among 3,161 youth who have abandoned drugs after a rehabilitation programme at a sober house.A total of 9,030 youth in Zanzibar joined sober house between 2009 and end of last year.

According to the 'Commission for National Co-ordination and Drug Control, Zanzibar (CNCDZ), Executive Director, Kheriyangu Mgeni Khamis during the period so...