Punjab govt flags off vans to make people aware about de-addiction prog

Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra today flagged off five vans to make people aware about the state government's de-addiction programme.

These vans would provide information about treatment facilities and the ill-effects of drugs and opiate products, according to an official release.

Mohindra said the state government has launched five information, education and communication (IEC) vans to sensitize people about the de-addiction programme as well as to motivate them to come forward to join the Punjab government's anti drug-campaign.

"We have designed the route map and all districts have been divided into five clusters," he said.

Mohindra said the vans will visit interior areas of each cluster, covering at least 30 stations (villages and blocks) in a period of one month.

He said the motive is to reach the doorstep of drug users and make them aware about the treatment and counselling facilities.

The minister said free treatment is being provided to all patients at government de-addiction and rehabilitation centres, and OOAT clinics.

The necessary instructions have already been issued in this regard to all the districts, he said.

Giving details about the Out Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment ( OOAT) clinics, the minister said after witnessing the high success rate of these clinics across the state, the Punjab government 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 door step of patients suffering from drug addiction.

"Around 100 more OOAT clinics will be started at CHCs (Community Health Centres) and Rural Dispensaries at the remaining districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Moga by September," he said.

He said there was seven times increase in terms of patient's registration in July with 15,782 patients. The total OPD footfall at OOAT clinics is 5,37,562 so far, the minister said.