Anti-drug drive gathers steam; 7-fold rise in patient registration in a month
: Punjab health and family planning minister Brahm Mohindra has said that there has been a spurt in the number of patients coming for de-addiction treatment in outdoor patient departments of the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres.
In a seven-fold increase, the number of patients registering in July was 15,782 against 2,095 in June. Overall, the total footfall at the OPDs in these special clinics has crossed 5.3 lakh.
Mohindra disclosed this information, while flagging off five Information, Education and Communication (IEC) vans to spread awareness about the de-addiction programme of the state government. “These hi-tech vans will provide complete information about treatment facilities and the ill-effects of habit-forming drugs and opiate products. The aim is to motivate all to come forward and join the anti-drug campaign of the state government,” he said, adding that according to the route of each van, the state has been divided into five clusters.
Mohindra added that each van would visit the interior areas of each cluster, covering at least 30 stations (villages and blocks) in a month. “The idea is to reach the doorstep of users and make them aware about the treatment and counselling facilities available.”
He added free treatment was being provided to all patients at Government De-addiction Centres, rehabilitation centres and the OOAT clinics.
The minister added that enthused by the success of the OOAT clinics across the state, the government had started 37 clinics in July at Mohali, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot and Ferozepur districts. “Now, a total of 118 OOAT clinics are functional in the state to provide OPD treatment services at the doorstep of patients suffering from drug addiction,” he added.
“Around 100 more OOAT clinics will be started in the remaining districts at the CHCs (Community Health Centres) and at rural dispensaries in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Moga districts by September,” he added.
The minister clarified that the state government had withdrawn the order to ban open sale of syringes in the state. “To curb the spread of serious contagious diseases, syringes are provided free across the country,” he said.