Dimapur, Dec. 8 (EMN): ARK Foundation, in partnership with Lightway Society and Kripa Foundation and with support from the department of Social Welfare, conducted a sensitisation programme on substance use prevention, management and co morbidities with drug users at the Immanuel Church in Pfutsero town on December 7.
An update from ARK Foundation stated that its president and resource person, Ketho Angami, touched upon various health concerns pertaining to the lives of a drug user with the objective to keep them away from premature deaths and infectious diseases. He has particularly stressed on the importance of OST and its benefits, drug use in relation to HIV, TB and viral hepatitis, and the prevention, management and treatment of all these diseases.
He informed that all those services are government initiated programmes and could be availed free of cost. He, however, lamented on the lack of awareness programmes, access to proper and easy access to tests, diagnosis and treatment. In case of overdose, he mentioned that it is reversible with an antidote and that people need not die of an opiod drug overdose. He also provided some overdose prevention measures and also on how an overdose could be managed and reversed through the administration of the antidote.
Altogether, 24 participants including the resource person attended the programme
Earlier in an opening remarks, the project director of Lightway Society has acknowledged the importance of holding such a programme to disseminate information that concerns the health of the people who use drugs.