Kohima, February 21 (MExN): The ARK Foundation conducted sensitization programmes on Substance use prevention, management and co morbidities with drug users and service providers at Zunheboto and Mokokchung Town in collaboration with DAPCU Zunheboto and Care Counseling Centre, Mokokchung on February 15. A similar programme was held at Kohima Town in collaboration with Kripa Foundation. All the three programmes were supported by the department of Social welfare.
Ketho Angami, President, ARK Foundation, the main resource person including DAPCU Zunheboto addressed various health concerns pertaining to the lives of drug users with the objective to keep them away from pre mature deaths and infectious diseases.
He covered various subjects including the importance of OST and its benefits, drug use in relation to overdose, HIV, TB and Viral Hepatitis, and the prevention, management and treatment of all these diseases.
He shared the nature of the diseases and deliberated as to how it affects the physical health and the lives of drug users and urged them to stay healthy and keep away from any sort of infections until they mature out of their addiction and come to recovery. He also informed that all these services are Government initiated programs and can be availed free of cost.
However, he also lamented about the lack of awareness programmes, access to proper and easy access to test, diagnosis and treatment.
He mentioned that overdose is reversible with an antidote, and that people need not die of an Opiod drug overdose. He provided some overdose prevention measures and also on how an overdose can be managed and reversed through the administration of the antidote. On HIV and TB, he mentioned that drug users are susceptible to such disease due to risk behaviors and immune suppression as a result of drug use. He shared the routes of HIV transmission and modes in which TB is spread, and also the prevention and treatment of these two diseases.
The resource person also shared information about the types of Hepatitis and how it is spread. Out of the five types of Viral Hepatitis, HBV and HCV are considered to be dangerous in nature. While there is vaccine available for HBV, there is no vaccine for HCV. He also deliberated on how HCV is tested, diagnosed and treated with the new antiviral drug over a period of three months.
Through this programme, he also said that Viral Hepatitis free program has been rolled out in Nagaland since 2019, and that the service is to be made available in all the district hospitals. Towards this, he informed that anyone who intends to get tested should go and avail the service as the Sate Viral Hepatitis Programne has on various occasions informed that treatment is free for everyone in all districts.
