THE Ministry of Health and Sports organized the launching ceremony of the National Strategic Framework on Health and Drugs yesterday.

At the ceremony, Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe highlighted the drug problems in health issue, economy and education and aims of NSP on Health and Drugs. He also stressed the five priority sectors of NSP on Health and Drugs (1) prevention of drug use among young people and children; ( 2) reduction of risks and harms for PWUD/PWID; (3) provision of voluntary and evidence-informed drug treatment options for people with problematic drug use; (4); rehabilitation and social integration options for those in need of such services; and, (5) continuing the work on national policy and legal reform that favour a ‘public health’ and a ‘rights to services’ approach.

The Union Minister then added the objectives of each priority sectors, major work plans, responsibilities and partner organizations, cooperation work with the relevant ministries and departments to conduct the ground survey, timeframe and evaluation in implementing the current NSP. He also discussed the budget and fund allocation, the appointment of focal person and formation of work committee, including the officials from the relevant ministries, departments, partner organizations and civil society organizations.

He also stressed the researches in implementing the facts in a strategic framework, organizing of steering committee to manage the work plans and phase-by-phase processes.

The Union Minister also said the NSP on Health and Drugs does not still include the reduction of drug production, drug control and other substitute sectors. So, the relevant ministries should make an effort to draft the framework for the needed sectors.

It is better to conduct educating programmes by the ones who quitted using drugs rather than preventive measures. There are about 9.7 million of basic education students, and if they have proper knowledge regarding the risks of using drugs, the drug consumption rate will decline. The Country Director of UNAIDS Mr Oussama Tawil also presented their performance in drafting the NSP on Health and Drugs and the pledge of Myanmar made in The United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem in 2016. The other participants then also discussed matters related to drug abuses and HIV.

MNA (Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

Photo –MNA

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar