The 10th Anniversary celebrating of Ahsania Mission Women Drug Treatment Centre
Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary a significant achievement for women with substance use disorders
The number of female substance users has been increasing alarmingly, but they are lagging behind in receiving treatment. Substance use affects the female differently than the men, in terms of physical and mental health as well as reproductive health which seriously affects the conceive, pregnancy period and rearing of child. So considering the needs of the country Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center was established in April 2014, which is the only full-fledged and comprehensive treatment center for female in the country. Since its inception, this treatment center has been providing treatment to female for substance use disorder, and mental health problems. The center has been providing evidence-based treatment successfully to the female substance users for over the last 10 years to reduce the anguish of substance uses.
A press conference was held on Monday (April 29) at 11:00 a.m. at the orchid conference room of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector office in Shyamoly of the capital to observe the 10-year anniversary of the success of Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. Iqbal Masud, Director, Health and WASH Sector of DAM presided over in the press conference. In his speech he said that, the treatment process of female substance users is quite complicated and long term process. Special attention should be given to the treatment and prevention of increasing number of female substance users in the country. In this regard, parents and policy makers have to play a pivotal role. He also added that this is the only treatment center managed by all women staff in the country which is making relentless efforts to ensure the safety and quality of the treatment. The center offers vocational courses, enterprise development and life skills training to enhance the rehabilitation process for clients.
Counselor Jannatul Ferdous Majumder of Health Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission presented the keynote paper. Meanwhile, the report shows that a total of 762 female have received treatment services since 2014 from Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center.
Among female receiving treatement, 39% were concurrent users of multiple substances, including 39% of yaba users, 39% of marijuana users, and 39% of hypnotics, alcohol, intravenous drug users, and other substance users. That’s an increase compared to last year’s data from Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (33% taking yaba, 28% cannabis, 16% hypnosis). Schizophrenia 35%, mood disorder 26%, bipolar 12%, depression 10%, OCD 6% and rest were suffering from other mental disorders.
Among the 762 women, 463 were treated for substance use problems and 299 for psychological problems. Data analysis showed that 70% of 762 patients completed treatment. 22% were non-completion and 4% patients were referred for various reasons. At present 4% clients are under treatment in the treatment center.
On 12th April 2014, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs (then State Minister) Asaduzzaman Khan, MP inaugurated the Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. Mentioned that Ahsania Female Drug and Rehabilitation center is the first and only licensed female drug treatment and rehabilitation center in Bangladesh managed by an all- female workforce and awarded first prize from the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) as the best treatment center in 2023 in Bangladesh. The center is fully air-conditioned with all modern amenities and facilities.
Center Manager Farzana Ferdous gave a welcome speech in the press conference. Rakhi Ganguly , Senior Psychologist of Health of DAM moderated the event.
