Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 24
A virtual panel discussion on the topic “substance use and abuse in the lives of women, the church and family in the context of Nagaland’ was organized on Sunday by State Level Coordinating Agency, Kripa Foundation in collaboration with Prodigals’ Home Dimapur and Social Welfare Department, Government of Nagaland.
In opening address, Abou Mere, Regional Director (North East), Kripa Foundation said, “Today’s panel discussion should serve as a new beginning of a joint effort of state government, churches, NGOs and health activists to recognize and address the specific needs of women Who Use Drugs (WUD) and identify appropriate ways to reduce the extent of harm associated with substance use.”
He said that women who uses drugs continue to face challenges that increase their vulnerability to HIV and other co-morbidities due to high levels of stigma, multiple stigmas, (institutional and societal) and discrimination because of the cultural prejudice and the lack of public, religious and political support for gender sensitive services in Nagaland.
“Women who inject or use drugs are often described in terms of their risk for HIV, viral hepatitis and other sexually transmitted infections, but have limited or no access to harm reduction, drug dependency treatment, sexual and reproductive health and rights services and general health services. It is thus essential that gender-sensitive services, non-judgemental sexual and reproductive health and rights services be put in place,” Mere said.
Recognizing women who use drugs as the experts in their own lives, meaningfully involving women who use drugs in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of programs and oversight of relevant research and policies services affecting them is of paramount urgency, Mere said adding that “We need to ensure elimination or reduction of cultural prejudice, stigma and discrimination and to scale-up WUD-friendly services.”
He also stated that there is a clear need for systematic and comprehensive advocacy and implementation strategies and policies for meaningful involvement of WUDs.
“It is imperative to ensure that appropriate services are made available to women who use drugs in harmony with gender equality, human rights, universal public health and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) frameworks. The Nagaland government should take these needs into account and formulate appropriate policies accordingly,” he opined.
The panelists for discussion included Anna Hairang, programme officer, North East Technical Support Unit (NETSU), Vitono Haralu, social activist and founder Pathfinders, Dr Joyce Angami, president Nagaland Medical Council and Centena Aier, Counselor (Therapist). The discussion was moderated by Nukshinaro Ao, Project Cord (OVC).
