UNODC is cosponsor of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS - UNAIDS
Free detoxification camp begins at Tharon
Disclaimer: The news story on this page is the copyright of the cited publication. This has been reproduced here for visitors to review, comment on and discuss. This is in keeping with the principle of 'fair dealing' or 'fair use'. Visitors may click on the publication name, in the news story, to visit the original article as it appears on the publication's website.
15 Jan 2007
Imphal, Manipur, North East India
Under the initiative of Integrated Women and Children Development Centre (IWCDC), Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai, a 15-day long free detoxification camp has begun from today at Tharon Khul, situated on the foothill of Cheiraoching, Imphal.
Pastor Rev Jonathan, Tharon Youth Club secretary M Rejoice, chairman of Tharon Village Authority Athon and MO (Medicine) of JN Hospital Porompat Dr Lokeshore graced the dais during the inaugural function.
The camp is being organised as part of the Project H 13 for Prevention of Transmission of transmission of HIV among injecting drug users (IDUs) in SAARC countries and is funded jointly by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
IWCDC is one of the four implementing NGO partners of the said project in Manipur, the other NGO partners being Kripa Foundation, SHALOM and Galaxy Club.
The project area of IWCDC covers ward nos.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and some parts of ward no 25 and 26 of Imphal West District.
The camp which began from today at Tharon Khul is first of its kind and it is being organised by IWCDC in association with other partner NGOs like SASO, Future Group for Drug Users, You and I, etc.
The decision to launch a series of awareness campaign along with organising such free detoxification camps in different parts of the project area was taken during a joint meeting of IWCDC, its partner NGOs and other local clubs/ bodies recently.
A core committee with six members had also been set up to ensure smooth conduct of the camps to be organised at different parts of the project area. Apart from a host of doctors and nurses who would look after required the medical regimen, 50 local volunteers have also been engaged for the purpose of take care of clients.
Talking to The Sangai Express, Sandhya, one of the Core Committee member, informed that the main objective of organising such free detoxification camp is to encourage community participation in prevention of spreading HIV from one person to another.
IDUs who mainly fall under the category of clients of short term treatment would be encouraged to participate in such camps, she said.
In all 15 IDUs who have been referred from various NGOs working in the field of HIV prevention are participating in ongoing camp which would continue till January 30.On the kind of treatment facilities to be provided to the clients during the camp, Sandhya explained that first six days of the camp would concentrate on medication and interaction with family members, and the remaining days on the treatment modules that have been chalked out which include counseling, group therapy, group session, role model play and other activities that aim at bringing about behavioural changes of the clients.
The "camp-detox approach" is part of the core scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (India) under the Government of India. In support of this approach, UNODC uses Low Cost Community-based Care and Support for drug users (LCCS) as an effective advocacy instrument to engage both drug users and the surrounding community to increase reach and quality of coverage to drug-using populations. This integrated LCCS approach is one of the significant processes adopted by UNODC's regional project (H13 "Prevention of transmission of HIV among drug users in the SAARC region" ) to draw upon trained human resources, which could help in scaling-up HIV interventions among injecting and oral opioid users. The project engages with governments and civil society through existing networks and structures for scaled-up responses to reach those most vulnerable and at high risk. LCCS thus addresses the adverse social, economic and health consequences of psychoactive substance use including vulnerabilities to STI/HIV, targeting population groups in resource-poor settings.
LCCS attempts to reach out to those drug users (including injecting drug users), who:
• are opioid and alcohol users and are at risk of transmission of STI/HIV through unsafe injecting as well as unsafe sexual practices, under the influence of psychoactive drugs.
• are far away from any institution-based addiction treatment (staying in remote areas).
• cannot afford to spare time to access the treatment (vulnerable women, daily wage earning drug users etc.).
• cannot afford the cost of addiction treatment.
• due to several relapses, do not have confidence on institution-based addiction treatment.
• have undergone successful addiction treatment but continue to undergo repeated relapse episodes due to negative community influences.
• are HIV positive, are clinically indicated to start anti-retroviral therapy and have been advised to start ART therapy.
LCCS is also recommended in situations where there is no in-patient addiction treatment facility or where, if a facility exists, it is inadequate to cater to the demand of addiction treatment in a particular geographical area.
