Drug de-addiction centre upgraded

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 13

The drug de-addiction centre at the Ludhiana Civil Hospital has been upgraded under the Tandarust Punjab mission. The centre located at the Civil Hospital now has 50 beds. Earlier, it had only 10 beds.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Punjab Brahm Mohindra inaugurated the supplementary ward of the drug de-addiction centre here on Monday.

Mohindra said the Punjab Government was committed to wiping out the evil of drugs from the state. He said the network of drug de-addiction centres in the state was being strengthened as now, a large number of people were coming forward themselves to shun drugs. He said the state government is providing free treatment for drug addicts.

Brahm Mohindra said several Outpatient Opiod Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres to administer medicine to drug dependent persons under the supervision of a trained medical officer were also being opened across the state.

Earlier, the Cabinet Minister attended the state-level Organ Donor Day function at Aykai Super Specialty Hospital, Chandigarh Road, to promote Tandarust Punjab mission in association with Gift of Life Organ Donation Awareness Society (GLODAS), an NGO.

He said Organ Donation Day is celebrated every year on August 13 and it provides a great opportunity in everyone’s life to come ahead and pledge to donate their precious organs. He said every year, about 5 lakh people die awaiting organ transplants, due to its non-availability.

The Health Minister, along with other dignitaries present, pledged to donate organs. The donor card was also signed and an organ donation walkathon was flagged off by the Cabinet Minister. He also inaugurated the state-of-the-art Liver and Kidney Transplant Institute at Aykai Hospital.