Nirvana Foundation, India HIV/AIDS Alliance organise advocacy meeting
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 03 2024: Nirvana Foundation in collaboration with India HIV/AIDS Alliance, New Delhi with the support of Gilead organised an advocacy meeting for "Involving the women who use Drugs Community in Planning and Monitoring Services" .

The meeting held at Hotel Imphal was attended by officials of the Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur and representatives of User Community and NGOs.

The meeting began with a welcome and keynote address by Sobhana Sorokhaibam, secretary of Nirvana Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion, Ng Uttam, Director, Social Welfare Department, stressed on the importance of involving the representatives of the User Community in any project/ programme initiated by the Government in connection with drugs.

He said that the advocacy meeting will be hugely beneficial to the projects/programmes taken by the Government for the betterment of people fighting with drug addiction/drug users.

He also encouraged the User Community to participate in any activities taken by the Government for the community.

Expressing concern over the increasing number of women dealing with substance abuse in the country, Ng Uttam shared that the Department takes the situation very seriously and is making efforts to increase the number of drug de-addiction centres for women in Manipur.

Victoria Yengkhom, Commandant, 2nd Battalion, Manipur Rifles, elaborated on the need to educate police personnel on how to interact and handle people dealing with substance abuse.

She also exhorted the people dealing with drug abuse to not be scared and come forward to receive proper treatment & rehabilitation.

Pampak Khumukcham, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, RIMS, Imphal spoke on the topic "Understanding mental health needs of women who use drugs" while Debashis Mukhetjee, Consultant, India HIV/AIDS Alliance elaborated on "Mobilizing communities and increasing the service coverage for women who use drugs" and "Understanding Risks and Vulnerabilities amongst women who use drugs".

Kunal Kishore, Senior Advisor, India HIV/AIDS Alliance also spoke on "Understanding marginalization in the context of women who use drugs and their access to health services".

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Yumnam Tomba, Training Coordinator, Kshamta Kendra, Nirvana Foundation.

Haobam Roshita Devi, Project Director (Manipur SACS) & Secretary, Health, Government of Manipur and Rajkumari Rose Devi, State Nodal Officer, SVHCP also attended the meeting.

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