Seven more hospitals to get de-addiction services in Himachal’s Kangra dist

Deputy commissioner Nipun Jindal, while presiding over a meeting of district co-ordination committee under National Narco Co-ordination Portal (NCORD), said that services will be started in the hospitals at Dehra, Baijnath, Thural, Fatehpur, Jawali, Dadasiba and Jaisinghpur

The Kangra authorities will expand the de-addiction clinic services to seven more hospitals in the district, taking the total number of such health institutions to 15. De-addiction clinic services were launched in eight hospitals on June 15.

Jindal said de-addiction services are provided at the designated hospitals for two days a week, Friday and Saturday, from 2pm to 4pm. (iStock)

Deputy commissioner Nipun Jindal, while presiding over a meeting of district co-ordination committee under National Narco Co-ordination Portal (NCORD), said that services will be started in the hospitals at Dehra, Baijnath, Thural, Fatehpur, Jawali, Dadasiba and Jaisinghpur.

He said that currently, services are available at Zonal Hospital Dharamshala and civil hospitals in Jwalamukhi, Kangra, Shahpur, Nurpur, Indora Fatehpur and Palampur.

Jindal said de-addiction services are provided at the designated hospitals for two days a week, Friday and Saturday, from 2pm to 4pm.

“Trained doctors and staff are available in these institutions to deal with de-addiction cases. Proper medications have been made available in sufficient quantities at these institutions,” he said.

The DC added two OPDs have been held since the launch of services and 33 addicts have been counselled, who are currently getting treatment.

In the state-wide drug prevention campaign from June 19 to 25, the administration had organised awareness programmes in educational institutions and villages across the district.

Kangra was adjudged top among the 12 districts in effective implementation of the campaign, said Jindal.

He said that to aware the school children about drug abuse and its consequences, the administration is launching a comprehensive awareness programme, “SAMVAD–Systematic Adolescent Management and Value Addition Dialogue”.

The DC directed sub-divisional magistrates (SDM) carry out surprise inspections of the rehab centres.

Speaking at the meeting, superintendent of police Shalini Agnihotri said that it was important to carry out mapping of vulnerable places, such abandoned buildings and secluded places that may become potential den of peddlers and addicts.