About Us
Years Of Experience
About Us
The World Anti drugs and Development Organization (WADO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental organization founded to address the devastating effects of drug abuse while promoting sustainable social and economic development. Tanzania faces significant demographic and socio-economic pressures, including a youthful population (median age ranked 214th globally), high population growth (13th), low real GDP per capita (187th), and persistent unemployment (26th). These factors, combined with elevated maternal (26th) and infant mortality rates (51st), increase vulnerability to substance abuse and related social problems. Drug abuse affects an estimated 150,000–500,000 Tanzanians, including 25,000–50,000 people who inject drugs (PWID). Drug abuse contributes to severe socio-economic challenges, health issues, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, endocarditis, skin infections, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases (e.g., heart attack, stroke), neurological disorders (e.g., psychosis, cognitive deficits), respiratory conditions (e.g., COPD, respiratory depression), and systemic issues like kidney damage and neonatal abstinence syndrome, exacerbating Tanzania’s public health crisis. Youth in urban and border regions such as Arusha, Tanga, Mara, and Kigoma are particularly affected by drugs like cannabis, heroin, khat, and cocaine, and these issues are driven by cross border trafficking from neighboring countries and compounded by poverty and unemployment. WADO responds with evidence-based programs that focus on prevention, harm reduction, rehabilitation, and socio-economic empowerment. Through community education, sober houses, health centers, vocational training, and data-driven research, it targets vulnerable groups, including youth, women, people with disabilities, refugees, ethnic minorities, and ex-inmates..
