National Drug Agency (NDA) has purchased a 10,000sqft land plot in Hulhumale’ Phase I to establish a drug rehabilitation centre for women and minors.
Speaking to PSM News, Deputy Minister of Health Shamau Shareef highlighted the need to improve drug rehabilitation services for women and minors and said that the development of the centre will be included in next year’s budget. He said the centre will prioritise prevention to allow patients to recover before their addiction becomes worse.
NDA has stated that it has increased the dose for patients during treatment due. NDA is currently treating patients in 11 centres across the country, which include the Himmafushi Drug And Rehabilitation Centre which has a 172-patient capacity and the Hulhumeedhoo Rehabilitation Centre which has a 60-patient capacity.
Furthermore, NDA has stated that it will assist any addict that is seeking help voluntarily and expressed concern that centres mostly have patients that chose rehabilitation over spending time in prison. The drug agency assessed 727 individuals as of 2022. A total of 612 individuals were mandated by the court to seek rehabilitation and 117 chose rehabilitation voluntarily. During this period, 255 individuals completed their rehabilitation.