Skill training for individuals undergoing treatment at OOAT drug de-addiction centres
Ludhiana, April 19 (Rajkumar Sathi). As part of the Yudh Nashya Virudh campaign to eradicate drug addiction, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh announced on Saturday a significant expansion of de-addiction infrastructure, including 550 new beds and the establishment of additional Out-Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres. Speaking to the media after reviewing the progress of the anti-drug campaign alongside MLAs Madan Lal Bagga and Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, SSPs Dr. Jyoti Yadav Bains and Dr. Ankur Gupta, the Minister outlined the Punjab Government’s multi-pronged strategy under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. This includes upgrading existing facilities, opening new OOAT centres, and combining strict action against drug traffickers with compassionate treatment for addicts. Dr. Singh detailed that Punjab currently has a 480-bed capacity in de-addiction centres and new 550 beds will added to further strengthen capacity, including 100 beds at DMC Hospital, 50 at CMC, 100 at upcoming Government Homeopathic Medical College, 190 at nursing college, and 200 at a private medical college, alongside beds in two government medical colleges. New OOAT centres will also be opened based on requirement to ensure accessible, high-quality treatment for addicts. To further aid recovery, the government will also provide skill training tailored to industry needs and agricultural training in high-value crops for addicts from farming backgrounds. These initiatives are designed to foster self-employment and long-term rehabilitation, ensuring recovering individuals can lead productive lives. Dr. Singh also highlighted the success of the Yudh Nashya Virudh campaign, noting that the drug supply network has been significantly disrupted, with stringent action taken against peddlers.
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