Resident counsellor and house manager of the Iris Place Rehabilitation Centre, Allan Mends, has expressed heartfelt appreciation to Citi FM and Channel One TV following their donation to the facility on Monday, April 6.
Speaking after receiving the items, Allan Mends described the gesture as timely and impactful, noting that the partnership between the media houses and the centre continues to grow.
“First of all, we are honoured by your presence and the partnership. It started last year and this year is a continuation, so we are honoured,” he said.
He explained that the support will significantly improve the centre’s ability to care for its clients, especially given the high cost of rehabilitation services.
“It will go a long way to help us take good care of our clients. Treatment is expensive—it’s not easy managing a facility like this because we have not shifted the total cost of recovery onto families and clients, so we subsidise the cost,” he noted.
Mends further highlighted that the donation goes beyond supporting the facility alone, stressing its broader social impact.
“You have not only donated to Iris Place per se, but you have also contributed to youth rehabilitation and community restoration,” he added.
Despite the support, he pointed out several challenges facing the centre, including operational constraints and increasing demand for their services.
“This is a rented premises that we operate from. The cost of living is not easy, and we have people with substance use disorder knocking on our gate who really need recovery but don’t have the resources,” he explained.
He disclosed that the centre often struggles with the difficult decision of turning away individuals who cannot afford treatment, although they make efforts to support some cases free of charge.
“As part of our social responsibility, we take care of two clients every year free of charge. So with Citi FM and Channel One TV coming on board, it will go a very long way to help our service delivery,” he said.
The donation forms part of Citi FM and Channel One TV’s annual Easter Orphan Project, a longstanding initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable institutions. Their continued support has been widely praised as a meaningful contribution to rehabilitation efforts and community development.
