Tobu sub-div sees huge health care breakthrough

DUDA Department launches Opium De-addiction Prog for Opium users and ambulance Service for pregnant mothers  

Morung Express News
Mon | April 26  

Making a remarkable achievement, the joint launching of Opium De-addiction Programme/OST (Opioid Substitution Therapy) for Opium users and Ambulance Service for pregnant mothers under Mother & Child Care Programme under BADP for Tobu Sub-Division was held here at the ADC Office Tobu.  

Mention may be made that the OST programme for Opium users was initiated in 2015 jointly by the Joint Action Committee Against Opium Addiction (JACAOA) with the support of Directorate of Health & Family Welfare Nagaland. The Opium De-Addiction Programme is now extended and taken up by the Department of Under Developed Areas (DUDA) under BADP 2016-17 jointly with JACAOA and the Nagaland State Aids Control Society (NSACS). A total of 276 Opium addicts are being treated under this ongoing programme in three different OST Centres under Tobu Sub Division.   The public of Tobu area also requested the DUDA Department to extend the Opium De-addiction programme to other border areas as the addiction problem is contagious and has to be fought in all fronts.  

Thongwang Konyak, Advisor DUDA, LMCP & NIDC addressing the programme as chief guest of said that opium abuse among the Konyaks started during the British era with an issue of permit for opium consumption. He made a commitment that this programme will be continued for the benefit of the people in the border areas and the Naga Society in general. He further encouraged the public to made good use of ambulances provided.  

Naiba Konyak, Advisor Geology and Mining NEPED & NBDA also spoke at the programme and said that the success of such programmes is due to the efficiency and the cooperation of the Administrative Officers and other Departmental Officers posted in Tobu.  

W Moba Konyak Convenor, JACAOA said that both the State and Centre has so far not adopted any policy against the Mass Opium Addiction in the border areas and the Opium De-addiction Programme taken up under BADP 2016-17 will be the first of its kind to address this particular issue. The KU Unit Branch Tobu and TASU made a representation to the Government to set up Anti-Narcotics Cell Unit at Tobu to control the supply and abuse of opium in the region.  

Also, two ambulances were provided by the Department under Mother & Child Care Programme which is being implemented by the Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS). These Ambulances along with other medical equipments and testing kits is a high tech health monitoring programme for pregnant mothers including the use of mobile apps and is launched to provide services to the villages under Tobu sub division under the joint supervision of ECS and CHC, Tobu. Chongsen, Co-ordinator ECS made a power point presentation of the programme.  

A short speech was delivered by A Zibenthung Kithan ADC Tobu short speech while Anden Konyak Director DUDA pronounced the vote of thanks. The programme was chaired by Senti Ao, IAS, Secretary DUDA who also highlighted other capacity building and human resource development Programmes taken up by the Department.