A mental hospital will soon come up in Manipur, said director of state Health Services, Dr K Rajo Singh, announced in Imphal on Sunday. He said the state government had sent a proposal for construction of a mental hospital to the tune of Rs 25 crore.
Dr Rajo was speaking at the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking event held under the theme “Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crisis” at the Indian Medical Association Hall, Lamphelpat, Imphal.
The programme was organised by National Mental Health Programme, National Health Mission and directorate of Health Services, Manipur.
Addressing the function as chief guest, Dr Rajo said that due to increase of drug menace in the state, Manipur is one of the states with high mental health issues.
"As the state government is putting an effort to construct a mental hospital in the state at Salam Keikhu under Lamsang AC, the proposal sent for construction of the hospital will surely be accepted soon," he said.
Rajo said that viewing the ever-increasing drug issue in the state, the state government launching the “War on Drug” mission is appropriate.
Drug abusers in the world
The total number of drug abusers in the world was 269 million in 2018. There is an estimation that this figure will reach 299 million in 2030, he said, adding that as Manipur is already affected by drug issues, there is a need to take up stringent steps to prevent it or else the society will be extinct.
Number of substance abuse in Manipur
According to a survey conducted by the state, 22.4 per cent of total population consume alcohol, 3.74 per cent use cannabis, 14.22 per cent use opioid, 7.73 per cent use sedative items, 40 to 50 per cent use smokeless tobacco, 20-25 per cent use smoke tobacco, he said.
Use of illicit items causes infertility problems and risk of getting infecting with many other diseases, he added.
Guest of honour of the function, RK Lenin Singh, HoD, Psychiatry, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), said that drug issues are getting severe that demand and supply reduction is the only strategy to control the menace. Harm reduction is another important means to reduce this social issue, he added while informing that Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) is one of the globally accepted best harm reduction programmes.
Dr Lenin said that even in the state of Manipur MMT is effectively being implemented at RIMS; district treatment centre, Bishnupur; district treatment centre, Churachandpur and district treatment centre, Thoubal. With the help of this treatment, provided free of cost in the said institutes, many drug dependents have been successfully treated and gave up using drugs.
Dr Lenin further said that the impact of drug menace is many which includes physical, psychological, financial, occupational, law and order, etc. As numbers of drug users are increasing each day, there is a need for strong intervention from every walk of life to eradicate this menace from the state, he added.
The president of today's function, additional director, Manpower Development of Medical Directorate, Dr K Sasheekumar Mangang said that crises caused by drug menace would surely increase as the number of drug menace is growing unstoppably.
The war on drug mission taken by the state government is highly appreciable. But there is also a need to strengthen healthcare services in the state, he said.
MTT is becoming one of the best harm reduction practices and there is a need for expanding the service, even at the level of Community Health Service, so that anyone can easily access the treatment facilities, he added.
Must Read: Indeed, a Mental Hospital is needed
Also Read: AMR: The Silent Pandemic
Must Watch: Mental Health and the Pandemic | How can we break the stigma on mental health?
