SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Drug Users’ Network (MeDUNet) on Friday marched to the office of the Meghalaya Aids Control Society in demand for reinstatement of the Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya (VHAM) for the HIV control programme.
The rally was taken out in the wake of the closure of VHAM centres in Jowai and Ladrymbai.
“We want our treatment and other services to be continued in the centres run by VHAM,” MeDUNet general secretary Arborlang Thangkhiew told reporters after meeting officials at the AIDS control society here on Thursday.
A fact-finding team that included representatives from the Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) had detected large-scale embezzlement against VHAM, which was implementing the HIV control programme in Jaintia Hills region.
MACS project director L Lyngdoh Mawnai on Friday told media persons that based on the reports submitted by the team, they have taken this decision to terminate the services of VHAM centre in Jowai and Ladrymbai.
She also informed that they have decided to go ahead with the decision of allowing the Mih Myntdu Community Social Welfare Organisation to take over in the implementation of the programme at both the centres.
She also informed that the office will select staff from VHAM in this new NGO.When asked about the demand of the Meghalaya Drug Users’ Network (MeDUNet) to reinstate VHAM, she said it is the governing body which will have to take the decision.
When asked about the demand to constitute an independent inquiry into this matter, Mawnai said even this decision has to be taken by the higher authorities.
Meanwhile, MACS Assistant Director Wilson Dohling said at the beginning they were unaware about the embezzlement at VHAM since it has always been one of the best performing organisations.
He said one of the major irregularities that they have found out against VHAM is the inflation in the number of drug users who are receiving treatment at their centres.
“When the actual number of drug users who are receiving treatment at the two centres is around 200 plus, the organisation (VHAM) mentioned that there are 400 plus who are undergoing treatment with them for the sake of receiving more funds,” Dohling said.
While terming the allegations on embezzlement against VHAM as a blatant attempt to tarnish the image of the organisation, Thangkhiew asked MACS to conduct an independent inquiry into the whole controversy.
He also lambasted the members of the Fact Finding Team (FTT) for manipulating the findings to ensure that the contract of VHAM in implementing the HIV Control Programme is terminated.
At the same time, MeDUNet also demanded that the service of all the staff of the Family Health International based with NETSU to be terminated right from the deputy leader down to the field mentors.
Meanwhile, the organisation has also expressed their unhappiness over MACS’s decision to hand over the project to Mih Myntdu Community Social Welfare Social Organisation from December 1.
Barry L Kharmalki, who first detected the alleged misappropriation, told reporters that VHAM was even distributing expired syringes in Ladrymbai.
“People should ask VHAM where is the Rs 39 lakh and I am surprised MACS is not filing an FIR in the matter,” he told reporters.
He also alleged that fake receipts were issued for syringes in Jowai and Ladrymbai.
