Dimapur, December 20 (MExN): After experiencing the pain and struggle of drug use, a group of ex-drug users on December 20, 2004 formed a community based organisation called CAD Foundation. Community Awareness and Development Foundation is a platform to address the issues of drug use and its related disease like HIV/AIDS. The foundation create awareness in the mass, reduce stigma and discrimination and provide care and support to the drug users to improve their social living standards.
Recollecting all the activities and programmes for the welfare of drug users in three years, CAD Foundation today celebrated its 3rd foundation day at its office-cum-drop in centre, opposite West Police Station, Dimapur.
The programme was presided by Wati Walling, the joint secretary of CAD Foundation while the invocation prayer was delivered Joseph, pastor, Living Work Centre. Tiameren Jamir, the project manager of the foundation, briefly spoke about the foundation and its activities to the gathering.
He said that the foundation had conducted 30 programmes and helped 98 people with in-house detoxification while 1099 people, including vulnerable women were sensitized. The foundation also planned to provide educational support to less privileged children next year.
Ex-drug user Longkong, while sharing his story to the gathering, said “I started using drug from my school life and I have created lots of problem to my parents, I even started stealing things from my own house. Therefore, my parents and other people lost faith in me.”
Longkong also narrated how he left the home and started living in the footpath and later on, taken to the CAD Foundation by his friend, for detoxification. Longkong expressed gratitude to CAD Foundation for the help. AK Kamad, president, Users Manipur, highlighted the need to create awareness among women in the State and further lauded the activities of CAD during the last three years. The programme culminated with the benediction proposed by Kevin.
