Male, March 27: India on Sunday jointly inaugurated a drug detoxification and rehabilitation centre in the Maldives with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying that drug addiction is a health and social issue that requires infrastructure, science, but most of all understanding and compassion to treat.
Jaishankar made the remarks while participating in the joint inauguration of Vilunu Drug Detoxification and Rehabilitation Centre in the Maldives’ Addu city – funded jointly by India and the Maldivian government.
He said that the centre is the first of the 20 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) to be completed.
Jaishankar said that it was completed within one year, despite the logistical challenges of the Covid pandemic.
“While drug trafficking is a crime and obviously deserves zero tolerance, drug addiction is a health and social issue that requires infrastructure, science, but most of all understanding and compassion to treat.
“The process of de-addiction and rehabilitation requires infrastructure and trained professionals. I am glad to hear that this centre is now functional with 24 trained staff in place, and will start in-house rehab processes next week for 20 patients,” Jaishankar said.
The minister wished the Ministry of Health, the National Drug Agency, the Addu City Council and the people of Addu all the very best in this endeavour to assist their communities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
“I want to say it today amidst you that India will stand by you in these efforts,” he said.
India-Maldives partnership in the health sector- of which this centre is one component – has a long tradition. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male has been a linchpin of Maldives’ tertiary healthcare for decades. Maldivian doctors and specialists receive training in Indian institutions, he said. (PTI)
