BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 1st April 2025: Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha announced that, as of January 2025, a total of 5,520 individuals dependent on injectable drugs have undergone treatment at Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centers across the state. Among them, 612 have successfully completed their treatment and reintegrated into society, leading normal and healthy lives.
Dr. Saha, who also serves as Tripura’s Health Minister, shared this information while responding to a notice during the reference period raised by MLA Gopal Chandra Roy.
Highlighting the efforts of the Tripura AIDS Control Society, the Chief Minister stated that multiple initiatives have been undertaken from April 2024 to January 2025 to enhance awareness and combat the spread of HIV in the state.
“To address the rising concerns of injecting drug use and HIV/AIDS, district-level sensitization programs have been conducted under the Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) initiative. These programs included participation from principals, head teachers, and headmistresses of 220 schools in regions identified as having high drug use prevalence,” Dr. Saha said.
He further elaborated that an intensive IEC campaign was carried out from August to October 2024, directly engaging 15,56,689 individuals across 663 villages, 401 schools, 36 colleges, and 140 public spaces. Special awareness sessions were also conducted for Corporators and Zilla Parishad members in the Agartala Municipal Council within the West Tripura district.
“In January 2025, messages regarding HIV/AIDS and injecting drug abuse were prominently displayed on 21 LED screens across the state, in collaboration with the Information and Cultural Affairs (ICA) Department,” the Chief Minister added.
Dr. Saha informed that three new satellite OST centers were made operational between September 2024 and January 2025 in Dhalai and South Tripura districts. These centers provide oral substitution therapy to intravenous drug users, thereby reducing the risks associated with needle-sharing, including HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C infections.
Furthermore, 18 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the West Tripura district, along with Urban Primary Health Centres, have been designated for conversion into OST centers. These centers will operate under the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OAAT) model adopted from Punjab to offer de-addiction therapy to intravenous drug users. Dr. Saha assured that healthcare staff across these facilities have already undergone necessary training, and implementation is currently in progress.
Currently, Tripura has seven standalone OST centers supported by the National AIDS Control Agency, along with 19 satellite OST centers managed by the state government. These facilities play a crucial role in mainstreaming individuals recovering from drug addiction.
“As of January 2025, our OST centers have provided services to 5,520 injection drug users, and among them, 612 have successfully completed their rehabilitation journey,” Dr. Saha reiterated.
