Drug treatment centres in Nepal lack trained manpower, proper treatment policies and guidelines and adequate financial resources to provide treatment to drug users, according to an assessment of drug treatment centres in Nepal conducted by Recovering Nepal.
The assessment was conducted in 20 such centres funded by the United Nations Management Support Agency in 10 districts. The centres provided treatment to male drug users.
According to Anand Pun, programme manager of Recovering Nepal: "Of the 625 drug users who received treatment from the centres, 139 revealed themselves as infected with HIV/AIDS."
According to the assessment, most of the treatment centres lacked facilities of care after treatment and reintegration programmes. It was revealed from the study that more than 90 per cent of the staffers are ex-drug users. It said most of the drug users who visit the treatment centres are from economically backward families and between 15 to 28 years of age.
It showed that only a few treatment centres have the basic treatment criteria and the centres were not able to reach female drug users. The assement has recommended to improve physical infrastructure, programmes and technical expertise of such centres. -
The Himalayan Times
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