Psychiatric hospital gets wards for substance abuse victims

Commissioner says efforts under way to modernise Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry

HYDERABAD:

Two drugs rehabilitation wards set up by the Anti-Narcotics Force at the hospital of Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry, Hyderabad, were inaugurated on Wednesday.

The Hyderabad Division Commissioner Muhammad Abbas Baloch, while speaking on the occasion said the institute is being transformed into a modern mental health facility.

He said that earlier substance abuse victims were kept along with people suffering from various psychiatric disorders.

However, after addition of the two new wards, the drug addicts would be provided treatment in separate environment. Baloch told that the patients will also be categorized in the wards on the basis of their age and health condition. The recreational environment will also be provided to the drug-rehab patients in order to help them return to their normal life.

According to him, a new ward is also being set up for the female patients who will also be imparted training in various skills and crafts. "The tragedy has been that families of some substance abuse patients don't accept them back in their lives even after their recovery," he lamented and informed that a committee is being formed to convince the families of such recovered patients to enable their return to their homes.

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The commissioner appreciated the services of Seylani Welfare Trust and Darul Sukun Trust at the hospital. The DIG Hyderabad Range Pir Mohammad Shah claimed that the police are fighting the menace of drug peddling.

The DIG asked the hospital to share with the police information about all the patients who are admitted for treatment of their drug addiction. "Most of the drug addicts are involved in various crimes. It's important that the police are informed about every single patients admitted in the hospital."

Medical Superintendent of the Institute Dr Syed Amir briefed the officials about performance of his institute. The country head of Darul Sukun Morris Khurshid and chief executive Anna Daniel and regional managers of Seylani Welfare Trust Imtiaz Ali and Zakir Saylani were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2022.