Buildings donated for drug rehabilitation centres

November 18, 2017

A ceremony to transfer ownership of two new buildings that will be used as drug rehabilitation post-treatment centres was held yesterday at No. 64 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road in Mayangon Township, Yangon.

One of the buildings is a 72 ft. x 30 ft. single story reinforced concrete structure, and the other is a renovated 100 ft. x 20 ft. building. The buildings were donated by Shwe Taung, a social development association. Yesterday’s ceremony was attended by Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye, who in his welcoming speech noted the importance not only of drug eradication, but also of drug rehabilitation.

“Easy access to drugs is the biggest danger and the drug producers, distributors and users are to be reduced until there are none. Drugs affects the individual both physically and psychologically, as well as the society. Reintegrating former drug addicts into society is important so that they don’t fall back into the vicious cycle of drug addiction and the work of reintegration is diverse as well as being important. The situation of the family of the former drug addicts needs to be learned and job opportunities must be created for former drug addicts and their families. Nine rehabilitation centres in operation are found to be lacking in effectiveness, and corrective measures will be put in place. Cooperation from the public (and the private sector) is required in this and much thank is owed to Shwe Taung social development association for their donation of new building and a renovation of an old building”, said the Union Minister.

An official from Shwe Taung social development association explained the donations and then handed over the documents to the Union Minister. The Union Minister in turn presented a certificate of honour to the donor. Department of Social Welfare Deputy Director General then gave words of thanks, after which the Union Minister and officials inspected the buildings and discussed the physical and psychological rehabilitation of former drug addicts, creating work opportunities for them and providing follow-up care.

A presentation to be used in informational and educational works was then presented to drug addict rehabilitation association (Myanmar) by the ministry.

In the afternoon, the Union Minister accepted Ks5.7 million donated by Myanmar citizens in Singapore for Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine (UEHRD) and presented certificates of honour to the donors, it is learnt.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar