Shillong, Aug 22: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has said the state’s healthcare institutions are not yet equipped to handle the complex health issues arising from drug addiction.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Ampareen said to address this, the government is working on establishing efficient health facilities that can provide long-term care and treatment for individuals struggling with addiction.
“Drugs in the state of Meghalaya is shortly scaling to alarming heights and as a concerned health minister, I am also well seized of facts that even our health institutions are not yet equipped to handle the complex health treatment that is involved for the redressal and solutions of these growing problems”, she said.
A departmental committee has been constituted, comprising representatives from the departments of health, social welfare, and education to develop a comprehensive plan to tackle the drug problem”, she said.
The response of the minister is after the recent incident of a young school student being attacked and stabbed with a needle, potentially exposing her to serious health risks.
The women’s wing of the National People’s Party had visited the patient in the hospital.
“These incidences of stabbing with a needle are sporadic in nature but alarming and government has to take cognizance. It is not just about catching the culprits but figuring out what actually happens and what are the circumstances and what led to it and how seriously compromised is this young girl,” Lyngdoh added.
