Mainstreaming injecting drug use community
- CARE's Nambol camp -

By CARE Foundation *

In an unprecedented response ever in the region towards mainstreaming former Injecting Drug Users, IDU community on Drug Substitution Therapy Programme (DSTP), a unique 15-day residential camp concluded with a total of 28 participants initiating their new life free from drugs after successful participation at the camp.

The unique camp, organized by CARE Foundation and supported by EHA (Emmanuel Hospital Association) - DSTP and Manipur AIDS Control Society, MACS at Nambol Collegiate High School at Nambol Sabal Leikai was designed to equip the campers with skills and means to stay away from drugs through various facets including physical, mental and spiritual aspects of staying clean and leading a prosperous life.

According to the Executive Director, Ronny Waikhom of CARE, the main purpose of the camp is to re-enforce those on and after DSTP to continue a life free from harmful consequences, risky behaviours and avoid either being infected or infecting others. Prevention of infection, neither fresh nor with a different strand (HIV sub types) ought to be avoided at all cost.

The Executive Director further pointed out that the purpose of the camp was to provide detoxification to 50 injecting drug users, who were earlier on DSTP (Buprenorphine therapy) at CARE Foundation for their successful treatment completion and proper mainstreaming to lead a drug free life. The camp also aimed at sensitisation of the local community on Harm Reduction strategies and success stories.

A total of thirty individuals attended the camp, among them, twenty two were from Imphal District and eight from Bishnupur district. It has been reliably learnt that four of them are undergoing ART (Anti Retroviral Treatment), while nineteen of them are Retro-reactive and twelve individuals were Hepatitis C seropositive.

The main activities of the camp initiated with a 7-day detoxification programme continued by therapeutic activities, Yoga lessons, counselling sessions, occupational therapy, games & sports, social services and entertainment programmes, CARE sources confirmed.

The camp concluded with a closing function on 23rd Jan 2008, chaired by Dr Pramod Kumar, Project Director, Manipur AIDS Control Society, MACS as chief guest, Dr RK Lenin, Associate Prof., Dept of Psychiatry, RIMS (Regional Institute of Medical Science) as president and T Kumar, Head Master, Collegiate High School and Charanjit Sharma, Programme Coordinator, EHA-DSTP as guests of honour of the function. Bobo of All Manipur Anti-Drug Association, AMADA also spoke on the occasion.

The Project Director, MACS stressed on the need for organising such a camp on community based levels to combat the twin epidemic of drug use and HIV/AIDS in Manipur.

The Associate Prof of RIMS, Pshyciatry Dept who spoke on the occasion expressed the need for providing various treatment options to Injecting Drug Users.

The doctor said, substitution therapy using Buprenorphine is the most suitable treatment options for 'hardcore' chronic-injecting drug users and also an effective means of bringing gradual behavioral change among them. He further added that DSTP had encouraged and enabled clients to lead a better life and showed a 'Health Seeking Behaviour' - which is a good sign, he continued.

The Programme Co-ordinator of EHA congratulated the campers and shared his wishes that all campers would overcome or manage the problems of addiction and become role models for thousands of people still affected by the menace of drug use and dependencies.

The Secretary of AMADA while sharing his past experiences and current activities called for a collective effort to maintain a society free from drugs. He assured, with helps from people from the same user community, he who had gone through the same pains and agony would certainly be able to re-kindled their lives once again and lead a healthy normal life.

The High School Headmaster who provided the space for the camp also thanked the organizers for organizing such a unique camp at their locality at Nambol Sabal Leikai and extended his best wishes to endeavor towards mitigating the twin-epidemic of HIV/AIDS and drug use in the area.