PUNJAB ORGANIZES SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR DE-ADDICTION & REHABILITATION CENTRES

Chandigarh, September 24, 2017: The Punjab Government has organized second phase of special training programme for the Medical Officers deputed at de-addiction and rehabilitation centres of the State.

Disclosing this here today, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr.Brahm Mohindra said that to provide standardized and paramount treatment facilities to the patients suffering from drug-addiction at the nearest possible distance in all districts of the state, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab has commenced a three months hand holding training for General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs). He said that after undergoing three months training as per provision in ‘The Punjab Substance use disorder treatment and counseling and rehabilitation centres rules 2011’, trained Medical Officer will be capable of handling indoor admissions in a de-addiction center under the supervision of a psychiatrist.

Mr. Mohindra said that after the completion of three months training programme, more than 50 Medical Officers would provide the all health care and treatment services to the patients at the de-addiction and rehabilitations centres. He said that keeping the view, to provide training for Opd based treatment for drug-addiction, training is being provided at ‘Government Medical College Amritsar’ by Department of Psychiatry in collaboration with Punjab State AIDS Control Society (PSACS). He said that health department has five master trainers who are providing this training at state level. He said that till now, medical and paramedical staff from district level, nine central jails, district Amritsar, Tarntaran, Moga and Ferozepur has been trained by the master trainers.

Mr. Mohindra said that under the progressive leadership of Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh, State Government has taken the concrete decisions concerning to drug-abuse. Now, it’s our responsibility to transform and moderate the de- addiction and rehabilitation centres which proved white elephants during the SAD-BJD tenure. He said that “state government has ensured the all families of patients suffering from drug-addiction, we will bring them back to normal life after facilitating health care services at the centres”.

Health Minister said that it has brought to the notice of state government that there is also need to impart special training to medical and para medical staff working at these centres. He said that during the first phase, a team of four medical and paramedical workers from each district (one Medical officer, one staff nurse, one counselor and one data entry operator or pharmacist) was trained to provide OPD based treatment for persons suffering from drug addiction. First training batch started on 17th July, 2017. After district level training, individual districts were taken up this training programe in all government hospitals across the state.

He said that state government has geared up to set these centres as exemplary for the country and soon, health department will introduce the awareness campaign to break the chain system which magnetize teenagers to taste addiction making substances during the golden period of life.

Health Minister also appealed the NGOs and social welfare clubs to join hand with state government and come forward hard against the anti-social elements who tried to damage the prosperity and life of youth in last decade.