ITANAGAR, Jan 11: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has asked the officers of the Health department to make all drugs de-addiction centres in the state functional at the earliest.
Speaking during a review meeting on the status of modernization of drugs de-addiction centres in the state here on Thursday, Mein urged the departments concerned to draw a concrete action plan and make these centres functional at the earliest so that they cater to the needs of the society.
Informing that the government has provided Rs 10 crore in the last budget for modernization of the existing drugs de-addiction centres, including purchase of required medicines and equipment, he, however, said some drug de-addiction centres are still not functional.
Expressing serious concern over the drug menace “that is spreading like a wildfire all over the state and ruining the society day by day,” he asserted that the government is very serious about the issue, and that the drug menace is one of the top priorities of the government.
He advocated dealing with the issue from all angles.
“It requires concerted efforts by the administration, police, the narcotics cell, and civil bodies including NGOs,” he said.
The DCM also stressed on the need to fit all the district hospitals with modern equipment and medical facilities through phased funding, and asked the officers of the departments to submit requirements to be incorporated in the coming budget.
“Namsai has been declared ‘the aspiration district’ of Arunachal Pradesh due to the presence of a large number of floating population and landless labourers,” the DCM said, and expressed hope that under the prime minister’s vision of transforming India by 2022, the district would witness rapid transformation in some specific parameters, especially in the field of education and health sectors.
Planning Parliamentary Secretary Chau Zingnu Namchoom said that Namsai district is one of the worse affected by the drug menace and is in urgent need of a drugs de-addiction centre. He also requested the department to make the drugs de-addiction centres in Namsai district functional by placing required fund, manpower and equipment as early as possible.
Health & Family Welfare Commissioner Kaling Tayeng informed that due to shortage of trained manpower and specialist doctors in the state, the zonal hospitals and district hospitals could not be fully equipped with required manpower and therefore the department is also not able to spare manpower for such de-addiction centres.
However, he assured that the department would come up with a proper plan to run the drugs de-addiction centres effectively.
Drugs De-addiction Nodal Officer Dr Riken Rina highlighted the scenario of drugs de-addiction centres in the state, and informed that the centres in Pasighat and Tezu are functioning smoothly.
He said that the drugs de-addiction centres in Namsai, Yupia, Changlang and Khonsa will be made functional by March.
Among others, Health & Family Welfare Special Secretary Dr Tapasya Raghav, Health Services Director Dr Moromor Lego, and State Programme Officer (Mental Health) Dr H Payee were present at the meeting.
