A CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, Sept 14: In a move which may upset groups working in the field of drugs de-addiction and with HIV patients a pressure group of the state today demanded separate hospitals for them. In this connection, HANM met state health minister AL Hek.
According to the HANM if such persons (drug addicts and HIV patients) are isolated this will help in curbing the rise of cases of drug addiction and HIV especially among the youth.
According to HANM general secretary Damonmi Dkhar if such persons are allowed to roam free there might be a risk of infection.
Dkhar cited the example of Indonesia where drug peddlers and those addicted are being punished.
Meanwhile, HANM vice president Nelson Kharbani intervened by saying that they wanted the government to set up separate hospitals which specialises in treating drug addicts and HIV patients.
“We have cancer hospitals, TB hospitals why can’t we have such hospitals for these people,” Kharbani said.
The HANM vice-president also said that if the state government can waste crore of rupees in buying medicines for treating male infertility, they see no problem in spending Rs 4 to 5 crore for giving better treatment to such people.
Kharbani also said that if the government builds such hospitals it can be affordable for patients coming from lower income groups to get themselves treated.