IMPHAL,Feb 9 - Deprivation of Oral Substitution Therapy (OST) to the needy ones is an ill treatment and hence around 60 per cent of Intravenous Drug Users(IDU) has been continuously tortured for the last two years, according to President Khaidem Mani of All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA).
Mani was speaking to media persons at community network for Empowerment (CoNE), a state level network for persons who use drugs, in Imphal this afternoon.
�There are no reasons as to why the concerned authorities in Manipur kept more than 3000 IDUs under continuous ill-treatment by not providing OST despite budgetary allocation for the same�, he alleged.
The state Chief Minister O Ibobi had given his word during the observance of World AIDS Day, 2011 that OST would be implemented in three districts of the State, namely Senapati, Thoubal and Chandel. With exception to Senapati, the remaining two districts have been left out till today.As such the whole population of IDUs existing in these two districts have been deprived of the benefits of OST.
About 20 percent (4442) of the State�s total injecting drug users (22,210 IDUs) is expected to be covered under OST programme through 34 centres across the State once the government implemented it. So far only about 1440 IDUs were covered with OST programme through 10 centres in Senapati and Ukhrul district headquarters. However, around 3002 PUDs were left uncovered at 24 different centres, according to President RK Nalinikanta of CoNE.
�Despite of approval of 19 centres out of the said 24 centres, the State has failed to implement OST for the last two years unlike neighbouring Nagaland which had been expanding their OST programmes.� the CoNE functionary added.
Vice President John Vemai of CoNE also admitted ,�OST is widely available in Imphal but most of the hill districts has been deprived by the Government despite of huge demand�.
Sharing a similar sentiment, Executive Director Babloo Loitongbam of Human Rights Alert, said that Goal number six of MDG (Millennium Development Goal) � halt and reverse of HIV is going to fail in Manipur as the most effective strategy for HIV prevention amongst the Intravenous Drug User has not yet been implemented widely. Sharing his experience, Henery Touthang of Saikul said, �We have a lot of drug use problem in Saikul in Senapati including the injection of raw opium. A meeting was held last year for implementation of OST programme but nothing has been done till date�.