Shillong, Aug 22: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh today mooted the idea of repurposing underused medical centres for treatment of drug addiction.
Admitting that Meghalaya’s health system is not yet ready to fully deal with the rising cases of drug addiction, she said the government is now working on setting up proper health facilities that can give long-term treatment and care to people struggling with drugs.
“Drug abuse in Meghalaya is reaching worrying levels. Our hospitals are not fully equipped to handle the complicated health problems that come with addiction. But we are working hard to change this. Very soon, we hope to have at least one strong and efficient health facility that can treat such cases,” Lyngdoh told reporters on Friday.
She said to strengthen the fight against drugs, the government has formed a special committee with members from the health, social welfare, and education departments, who will prepare a detailed action plan and suggest urgent steps to tackle the issue.
Lyngdoh also said some existing medical centres, like Community Health Centres (CHCs), could be repurposed for drug treatment. “We need to use facilities that are currently underutilized. For example, some CHCs near Shillong are not fully serving patients. We can redesignate them for drug treatment so they don’t go to waste,” she explained.
Her statement comes after a shocking incident where a schoolgirl was stabbed with a needle, raising fears of serious health risks. Lyngdoh said the government must look beyond just punishing the culprits and focus on understanding what led to such attacks.
The minister also highlighted the importance of the Drug Reduction, Elimination, and Action Mission (DREAM), which focuses on both medical treatment and community involvement. “This is not just about government preparedness. DREAM will become an institution that deals with drug treatment in many ways—not just one direction,” she said.
Lyngdoh further announced that the government will soon open fully dedicated drug treatment centres in Shillong and Tura. She also shared that Meghalaya now has its first all-women rehabilitation centre, which she described as a big step in the state’s fight against the drug menace.
