To commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking, 26^th June 2009, HANDS had organized a chain of events. In the first event HANDS along with the Sub Divisional Officers office organized a rally which also consisted of The S.D.O himself, other dignitaries like the Add Superintendent of Police Kalimpong Sub Div, IC Kalimpong PS, The Chairman & Vice Chairman of Kalimpong Municipality, various other NGOs and school children. This rally went around Kalimpong town with placards and banners, trying to spread the message of the Horrors of drug abuse and the damages caused by illicit trafficking. This rally after passing through the town came back and concluded at the Trikon Park at Thana Dara.To commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking, 26^th June 2009, HANDS had organized a chain of events. In the first event HANDS along with the Sub Divisional Officers office organized a rally which also consisted of The S.D.O himself, other dignitaries like the Add Superintendent of Police Kalimpong Sub Div, IC Kalimpong PS, The Chairman & Vice Chairman of Kalimpong Municipality, various other NGOs and school children. This rally went around Kalimpong town with placards and banners, trying message of the to spread the Horrors of drug abuse and the damages caused by illicit trafficking. This rally after passing through the town came back and concluded at the Trikon Park at Thana Dara.

 

People & students gathered at the campaign       Mr P.J.Pradhan talking about the measures of

                                                                                        fighting the menace of addiction to the  SDO,

                                                                                        Mr Amiyas Tshering,The Superintend of Polic,

                                                                                         Mr Dorjee (Clock wise from left)  and other

                                                                                        dignitaries, school heads and NGO’s.

 

        Mrs. Sharda Mukhia welcoming the Invitees at the inaugural ceremony

HANDS Treatment cum Rehabilitation Centre Inaugurated in Kalimpong

April 11, 2009

Kalimpong: The Himalayan Anti-Aids and Anti Narcotic Drugs Society (HANDS) - an NGO on AIDS, Drugs and Alcohol Addiction Awareness, based in Kalimpong - under Chairpersonship of  Mrs Sarda Mukhia, inaugurated its “HANDS Treatment cum Rehabilitation Centre” at Chibbo Busty in Kalimpong, on April 11, 2009, amidst the backdrop of Kanchanjunga and the growing Drug and Alcohol addiction problem awareness that is currently getting “noticed” in the Darjeeling, Sikkim and Siliguri areas.

The Centre was inaugurated in a ribbon cutting ceremony by Elder Pema Tamang, of El Shadai Protestant Baptist Church after conducting a prayer. Also present were noted personalities like Deputy Magistrate & Secretary, Secretrate DGHC Kalimpong, Mr .K Bhushal, SDMO of Kalimpong Hospital, Dr SR Pradhan,Retd Wing Comm,Mr Prafulla Rao of Save The Hills,Mr Amod Yonzon or Park Hotel, Mr Tapan Pradhan,Director Shaptashree Gyanpith School, Dr Salomi Zimba, Mr Nereus Mukhia of David Gas, Mr Gopal Chettri, Deputy Manager of SBI of Siliguri area office and others.

 Speaking at the inauguration, Resource Person, Mr PJ Pradhan (Thulo), associated with the Hope Centre in Rongpu as well as the Sikkim Rehabilitation Centre (SRC), 32 Mile near Singtam, said: “Alcohol and Drug addiction is more of a ‘genetic x-factor problem’ than one of an individual’s will power against the addiction gene – which is akin to diabetes, blood pressure and other similar genetic diseases.”

 He went on to elaborate that the unsuspecting society, “would do anything to treat their family members from various diseases but were yet to become aware that the ‘addiction disease’ was progressive in nature – where addicts would beg, borrow or steal – to fuel their addictions towards ‘alcohol and addictive drugs’ and that this disease would then also affect all the family members as well.”

 Mr PJ Pradhan went on to add that such rehabilitation centers as HANDS, in Kalimpong, played a vital role in helping patients during their detoxification period and provided psychological counseling to both the patients and family members to arrest this disease. He said that, “since this disease has no medicinal cure, the only cure was total abstinence and a spiritual awakening was necessary for this progressive disease to be arrested.”

Dr SR Pradhan, in a question answer session, pointed out that there was an urgent need for a female rehab in Kalimpong and the region, as an increasing number of female patients were being admitted to hospital in critical condition, as the society did not realize the nature of this “disease” and still stigmatized it. Mrs Sarda Mukhia in reply to the point raised by Dr SR Pradhan, mentioned that she was acutely aware of this dire need, but due to the lack of trained female personnel, HANDS was already in the process of getting such personnel trained and that they were considering opening a female wing within a year.

Sikkim already has two female rehabs – one in Singtam and the other at Naamchi. However, the need for more female rehabs with adequate facilities and proper counseling and guidance systems is still acutely felt in the region.

Mrs Sarda Mukhia then went on to thank all the generous donors, for their generous contributions to make their venture a success. “Join hands with HANDS to make HANDS a success,” was the phrase Nereus Mukhia coined.

The Himalayan AIDS and Narcotic Drugs Society originated with the growing concern over the unchecked growth of HIV and Drugs/Alcohol dependency in Kalimpong and the region. The HANDS NGO was established on June 26, 2006.

The various Invitees at the inaugural ceremony/ patient’s dormitory

                         

People standing to make the human chain a success

Mr Nereus Mukhia giving awarness to the people present at the program

Patients at the Detox Camp                              Input Session by Mr Tshewang Bhutia

On 26^th June 2008, to mark two years of existence as well as to commemorate International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking, H.A.N.D.S. organized a 10 days Free Detoxification Camp in Two Phases. During the camp, food, medicines, hospital expenses and all the other requirements were met by the society.

      Phase I – 10 Young male chemically dependents underwent Detoxification Treatment under the supervision of a member Doctor, Dr Sanjay Zimba at Kalimpong Clinic, (Dr Sharma’s Nursing Home) for a period of 5 days, -26^th to 30^th June.

       On 29^th June, when the patients were found to be in better frame of mind, -Mr Chawang Bhutia, Counselor from Mukti Foundation, a treatment centre in Ghoom, Darjeeling, conducted a very resourceful counseling session.

       On 30^th June, Mr P.J.Pradhan from Kurseong and Mr P.J.Pradhan from Gangtok, both counselors working in the field of substance abuse, conducted counseling session with the patients. Parents and Guardians of the patients had been invited for family counseling. The two P.J.Pradhans conducted family counseling sessions before the patients were discharged and handed over to their respective Guardians. 

     Phase II – (1^st July to 5^th July) following their discharge from the hospital all the 10 patients had to attend intensive counseling by trained staff at the H.A.N.D.S. Day Care/Drop in Center. They reported daily at 9:30 AM and after a  whole days program, including Tea and mid day lunch, they were allowed to go home at 4:30 PM. They were also asked to attend the NA meetings on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings.

     2^nd July- Three of the ten patients were motivated to go fore further long term Rehabilitation Treatment. One of our staff took these three patients and had them admitted at Mukti Foundation, Ghoom, Darjeeling. Two more patients are also ready to join the same. They will be going in the near future after they have settled their family problems.                          

       Considering the personality damage caused by Drug Dependency, the 50 % motivation  outcome of the program is satisfactory and we hope to be able to motivate all 10 in the future.

This kind of program was held for the FIRST TIME IN KALIMPONG

HANDS Help Line Posters at the Sub Divisional Hospital 

Posters with Help Line numbers have been made and pasted in important public places, i.e. Hospitals, Police Station, Restaurants (Fast Foods), Collages, Nursing Homes etc. Any effected party or person can contact the help line. We have received many calls, especially from the Police Station and the Hospital. Our staffs have given immediate response to such calls and provide necessary help.

School children at the Awareness Camp in Saptashree Gyanpith

HA.N.D.S. is conducting Drug & Alcohol Abuse and HIV/AIDS awareness programs in schools like St Joseph Convent, St Augustines School, Rock Vale Academy and Saptashree Gyanpith. This is an ongoing program, the horrors of Drug abuse and HIV/AIDS is on the rise amongst our youth so our aim is to educate them at an early age. 

People attending the Awareness Camp              Dr Sangay Zimba at the Awareness Camp

Working is going on in the Rural Areas also Mountain Dynamics, Pudung, Kalimpong, an N.G.O working in the villages holds regular training programs and H.A.N.D.S. has joined hands with them to conduct awareness on HIV/AIDS & Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Since Alcohol seems to be the excepted silent Drug in the villages we have laid emphases on these points and brought out an important message-“Alcohol is the oldest Drug”

Interaction by Mr Jessy Targan                                Peer Leaders & Senior students                  

HANDS, Kalimpong observed the above occasion for two days.

On the 26^th Jun 2007 an awareness meeting for peer leaders and senior students was held at Rockvale Academy. The meeting was well attended by approximately 200 students from 10 different schools and was covered by the local media and press. Three resource persons, Mr. Jessy Thargen, Mr. P.J.Pradhan and Mr. Gyamtso, were invited from HOPE, (a rehabilitation centre & a very successful N.G.O) from Sikkim, for the occasion.

Street Play on the Horrors of Drug Addiction in Main Road (Kalimpong)

On the 27^th Jun 2007 a street play on the fatal and vicious cycle of drug abuse was staged at the centre of Kalimpong (Dambar Chok), was well attended by the public. On both days pamphlets, T- shirts, and caps sent by CID (Criminal Investigation Dept), West Bengal were distributed to both the public and students. Posters sent by CID, discouraging youths to stop drug abuse were posted all over town in addition to the posters sent to remote areas of the subdivision.

On the whole the both the awareness workshop and the street plays were a grand success