Sensitization workshop on MMT held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 11 2016: National Aids Control Organization (NACO), Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), New Delhi, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) jointly organised a one day sensitization workshop on Methadone Maintenance Programme was held today at Classic Hotel, Imphal today.

Delivering the welcome address, Pradeep Kumar Jha, Project Director, MACS expressed gladfulness on the successful venture of the collaborative effort of NACO, MACS and various stakeholders in addressing HIV intervention in the State and highlighted that another HIV intervention project called "Sunrise" was also launched in 2015 in the State.

He also said that the requisite processes needed in the implementation of the project have been finished and it will be put into operation soon.

Lauding the role and challenges of the doctors and other staff engaged in HIV and drug related programmes despite shortages of funds and manpower, he said NACO needs to revise the salaries of the staff.

Speaking on the "Global perspective on harm reduction", Dr David Jacka, Global Expert on Harm Reduction, Australia, said that Methadone was used as a painkiller during World War �II by the soldiers in European countries, but was found unsuitable due to its longer effect.

He continued that the opioid substance was found speculatively successful in addressing heroin abuse issue when the medical experts could not found other options for treatment during the late 1950s and 1960s.Telling that methadone and its maintenance is very cheaper comparing to other mechanism, he said it is widely adopted in several European and Asian countries and has tremendously saved the investment cost for addressing harm reduction.

Meanwhile, Dr S Ibomcha, IGP (Ops), Govt of Manipur who spoke on "the role of police in enhancing access to harm reduction services in Manipur" opined that the role of police department would be more on punitive aspect rather than preventive efforts.

Pointing out that the country has no specialised laws to address crimes related with drug abuse, he assured that the Police Department would endorse full support to sensitize the public and police on HIV intervention and harm reduction strategies.

Giving the keynote address, Dr Neeraj Dhingra, Deputy Director General, Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, asserted that the HIV prevalence index in Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur is still high despite serious endeavour made by several Government departments, agencies and stakeholders to reduce it.

He opined that the agencies working in the field need to focus in the integration and reintegration of community in the programmes to achieve the goal.

Further maintaining that the source of OST (methadone maintenance) is very limited, he stressed on the importance to look on how to prioritize the budget.

Stating that looking whether the cost of methadone is cheaper is not important, as the country has already implemented other costlier OST, he added the need is to focus on whether the substance will be more effective.

Many other eminent experts have also spoke during the workshop on varied topics.

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