120 addicts rounded up for rehabilitation in Jalalabad

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Public health officials, helped by security personnel, have rounded up 120 drug addicts in Jalalabad, the capital if eastern Nangarhar province, and admitted them to hospital for treatment.

The governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, told Pajhwok Afghan News on Thursday the addicts were picked up from Loya Wyala area between Chaparhar’s old bus station and Angor Bagh.

Public Health Director Dr. Najibullah Kamawal said the drug addicts were in bad condition. Residents of the area complained to the authorities against their presence, the official added.

He said the rehabilitation centre in the province had the capacity to treat 225 patients. The centre is able to rehabilitate 150 people of old age, 50 people less than 18 years of age and 25 women.

Dr. Kamawal said 75 addicts were currently under treatment at the facility while another 120 more had also been admitted in compliance with the direction of the governor.

Counter-Narcotics Director Mohammad Idrees Sapi called on the people to prevent their relatives from using drugs. He also appealed to farmers to avoid growing the illicit poppy crop.

He said the drive to round up drug addicts had been launched in close coordination with public health officials and security forces. Sports facilities have been provided for the drug addicts at the rehabilitation centre.

Mukhlis Ahmad, a resident of Jalalabad, alleged that some drug addicts were released after being rounded up.  He urged the government to pay more attention to the rehabilitation of the addicts.

Najibullah, another resident, said: “I saw myself some drug addicts running towards the city.” The public health director, however, said only those who were not suitable for hospital admission were released.

nh/mud