A
COORDINATION meeting on safeguarding and rehabilitating drug addiction was held
at Mingalar Thiri Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
The
meeting was opened with a speech from the permanent secretary Dr. Thet Khaing
Win from the Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS). He said his ministry leads
the medical treatment working group of the Body for the Prevention of the
Danger of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. He said they have
established 26 Major Drug Addiction Treatment Centres, 47 Minor Drug Addiction
Treatment Centres, and 55 methadone clinics that are providing continued
services.
The
permanent secretary said drug addiction shares many similarities with other
chronic illnesses and brings numerous physical, mental, and social
consequences. He said this calls for increased drug addiction treatment and
rehabilitation efforts. He said drug addiction is usually stigmatized rather
then viewed as a health problem and this creates obstacles in providing or
receiving treatment and other services.
Attending
the meeting were Deputy Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Mya Lay Sein,
directors-general, deputy directors-general, directors, heads of public health
departments and medical services departments from states and regions, Medical
Superintendents of hospitals, professors and medical specialists, and officials
from Myanmar Police Force and the Rehabilitation Department under MoHS.
The
two-day coordination meeting began yesterday and will conclude today. Attendees
will discuss current processes of drug treatment departments, projects to
support opening of drug treatment and rehabilitation centres in Shan State, the
current status, challenges, ways forward and strategic key points of drug
treatment departments in Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Kachin and
Shan states, designing a national strategic framework based on the new National
Drug Control Policy, and implementing strategies moving forward.
MNA
(Translated
by Zaw Htet Oo)
Photo:
MNA
Ref:
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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