Key role of psychiatrists acknowledged
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 05 2023:
The two-day National Midterm Continuing Medical Education (CME) of the Addiction Psychiatry Society of India (APSI) kicked off today at RIMS Jubilee Hall at Lamphel.
The inaugural function of the CME was organized by the Psychiatry Department of RIMS under the aegis of APSI.
Dignitaries present at the event include Dr Sapam Ranjan, Minister, Health & Family Welfare; Professor H Priyosakhi Devi, Director, RIMS; Professor Atul Ambekar, general secretary, APSI and Dr Nepram Sanjib Singh, Medical Superintendent, RIMS as the chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
Speaking at the function, Sapam Ranjan stressed on the important role of psychiatrists in mitigating the menace of drugs, stress and mental health problems in society.
He went on to point out that the contribution of psychiatrists has increased post Covid pandemic due to aggravated stress levels and poor mental health of the people as a result of the pandemic.
He said that both the State Government and the public are concerned about the trend of many youngsters falling prey to drug abuse and its adverse impacts on society.
Maintaining that the Government has been trying to mitigate drug menace under the 'War on Drugs' campaign led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Sapam Ranjan claimed that the State Government has nabbed numerous drug smugglers and destroyed poppy cultivations besides trying to rehabilitate drug addicts.
In her speech, H Priyosakhi Devi lauded the various efforts of RIMS Psychiatric Department including their activities like organising CMEs, annual conference of psychiatrists and the recent installation of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) machine among others.
She added that equipment like rTMS machines are quite important in States such as Manipur where a majority of the people are poor.
She also expressed her desire to upgrade and expand the RIMS Psychiatric Department.
While highlighting that the youth of Manipur are at risk of falling victim to drug abuse as the State is close to the 'Golden Triangle', considered by many as the world's largest heroin production zone, H Priyosakhi lamented that the number of female alcoholics in the State is also apparently increasing.
The Director added that the two-day CME of APSI will go a long way in exploring various methods to mitigate drug menace and mental health problems.