Limited female de-addiction centres concerns SW director
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 04 2024: Informing that there are only two all-female de-addiction and counselling centres in Manipur, social welfare director Ngangom Uttam expressed concern that limited existence of such facilities is stymieing effective treatment and recovery of substance abusing women.

Speaking in the one day advocacy meeting organised by Nirvana Foundation along with India HIV/AIDS Alliance, New Delhi on the theme Involving women who use drugs community in planning and monitoring of services' at Imphal hotel on Thursday, director Uttam-stressed the need for increasing de-addiction and counselling centres for women to address inconveniences faced by female addicts.

Stating that guidelines for registration of private drug de-addiction centres under government has been issued, he also assured that efforts are being made to provide quality treatment service by framing essential standard for care and service.

Reflecting on instances of random abandoning of new-born babies, Uttam called upon all concern to hand over infants to the Social Welfare Department, district child protection units or at cradle points set up at different locations.

While assuring that identity of the parents will not be disclosed and they can reclaim their child Within two months, if willing, Uttam said any unwanted child could handed over or adopted by issueless couple after two months of abandonment.

Apart from Uttam, the advocacy meeting was also attended by health secretary Haobam Roshita Devi, 2nd Manipur Rifles commandant Victoria Yengkhom, SVHCP state nodal officer Rk Rosie Devi and India HIV/AIDS Alliance, New Delhi senior advisor Kunal Kishore as presidium members.

In her address, Nirvana Foundation secretary Sorokhaibam Sobhana pointed out that the number of female drug users is increasing and stressed the need for additional care and service facilities for them.

She also highlighted problems faced in service planning using the same programme design of male drug users while pointing out that the advocacy meeting has been initiated to plug the gap in programme design for female drug users.

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