Finer points of OST (Oral Substitution Therapy) discussed : 15th dec12 ~ E-Pao! Headlines

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Finer points of OST (Oral Substitution Therapy) discussed
OST is best option for IDUs, says Dr Chaurasia
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 14 2012: "Oral Substitution Therapy or OST is the best option today for injecting drug users (IDUs) and we will do whatever we can to scale it up", Dr.Shailesh Kumar Chaurasia, IAS, Project Director, Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) has assured.

He was speaking at the Dissemination Workshop on NGO-led Oral Substitution Therapy (OST) being implemented in Nagaland and Manipur by Project Orchid 2006-12, at Hotel Classic here today.

Apart from Dr Chaurasia, Dr Nandira Changkija, Project Director of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), representatives of NACO-NERO, Guwahati, drug users and positive networks and NGOs working in the field of drugs and HIV & AIDS attended the day long Consultation organised by Project ORCHID.

In addition, officials from State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram also attended the consultation to learn from the experiences of the OST being roll out in Manipur and Nagaland through community - NGO partnerships.

Dr Chaurasia informed that as part of the proposed effort to scale up OST in Manipur, MACS is assessing 19 sites where OST centres can be set up.

Four sites in Thoubal, Tamenglong, Moreh in Chandel district and Senapati have been approved and the centre in Senapati is already operational.

While underlining the importance of OST programme for the North Eastern States, Dr Chaurasia observed, "We can't be contented with Needle Syringe Exchange Programme (NSEP) and have to engage at various levels.

OST today is emerging as the most effective and accepted option among IDUs" .

Pointing out poor coordination among NE states on skill sharing and relevant information, Dr.Nandira Changkija, who chaired the discussion session, recommended setting up of a core committee comprising SACS, NGO and Technical Support Unit (TSU) representatives from all the NE states.

Such a committee will not only facilitate scaling up of OST but also knowledge sharing on a number of issues.

In India, OST was introduced in 1993.But it began in Manipur and Nagaland in 2006 under Project ORCHID OST initiatives.

In Nagaland, the OST clinics are being implemented by Project ORCHID partner NGOs.

The 13 OST clinics are reaching out to 1800 IDUs across Manipur and Nagaland through Project ORCHIDs initiatives, Dr Changkija.

Speaking on the importance of continued scaling up of OST, Dr.Langkham, Director, EHA-HIV/AIDS and Partnership Projects stated that "a day of sobriety in the life of a drug user is important.

When we started OST people questioned us on the chances of success of the programme.

The programme was for one year.

Today not only are OST services continuing but it is being seen as an important treatment option by the community of injecting drug users.

We have achieved ten percent OST coverage in Manipur and aim to reach 20 percent soon" .

Referring to the Australian experience where OST coverage among IDUs is 40 to 50 percent Dr.Suresh said that HIV prevalence among IDUs in Australia reduced drastically with increase in OST coverage.

"We have to be able to achieve 30 - 40 percent coverage to reduce incidence of HIV among IDUs" .

He further emphasised on the need for extending OST services to women, and added, "It is even more important considering their vulnerability" .

While sharing the impact of OST programme on their lives, Gyanjyoti, an IDU, who had relapsed on numerous occasions, said that "after enrolling in OST programme he continued his studies and completed his degree in 2007 and is currently pursuing research from Manipur University.

Gyanjyoti started OST in 2006 at the OST centre of Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+), Imphal.

Melody (name changed), whose husband is currently undergoing OST in Churachandpur district, said that she came to know of her husband's drug use in 2002.Quarrels were frequent and her husband used to sell household goods to support his habit.

The ORCHID OST programme in Churachandpur has, however, enabled him to stay off from drugs and take more interest in other productive activities.

* This news is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. E-Pao.net is not responsible for it's sanctity & originality.

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