U-TRUST, NGOs strike common ground
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 14 2024: A joint meeting of the Union of Treatment and Rehabilitation of Users for Social Transformation (U-TRUST) and NGOs working in the harm reduction sector has discussed the current drug use scenario and its related issues and adopted some key resolutions.

The meeting held at the conference hall of Radiant Resort, Maiba Khul in Imphal East was attended by executives of U-TRUST and representatives of three NGOs namely SASO, Care Foundation and Kripa Society along with the secretary of MSACS Partner NGOs' Forum (a conglomerate of 53 Targeted Intervention partners), said U-Trust in a statement and added that the meeting was also endorsed by the MNP+.

After an extensive and detailed deliberations on the present drug use scenario, the need for healthy networking and referrals between harm reduction and demand reduction sectors and future coordination, the meeting adopted various resolutions that includes undertaking a correlation approach among the participating organizations irrespective of mode of service delivery (harm reduction or demand reduction) to address the current drug use issues particularly human rights violations of drug users, it added.

U-TRUST further said that the meeting unanimously agreed that a seminar on 'strengthening of existing drug treatment services and addressing the ongoing rampant human rights violations of drug users amidst the prevailing ethnic violence' shall be organized shortly in partnership with other like-minded organizations/CSOs, Acknowledging that a lack of an established medium has always been a deterrent for those in the harm reduction and demand reduction sectors to join hands and work for the welfare of drug users' community, the meeting agreed to make every effort to pave a way for establishing a common platform for both the sectors to work together more efficiently.

The meeting also unanimously agreed to maintain a healthy networking and referral system by opening an open communication channel among the rehabilitation centres under U-TRUST and the participating NGOs.

"In a significant outcome of the joint meeting, it was agreed upon that an effective and efficient drug overdose response system will be developed by the participating organizations in which private rehabilitation centres shall be connected with the nearest TI (Targeted Intervention) partners in the vicinity for overdose responses.

The TI partners and the rehabilitation centres under U-TRUST shall also co-operate with each other in any relevant activities and also during emergencies," U-TRUST said.

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