New blocks of Hulhumale' Halfway House opens

A special inauguration ceremony was held to open the new blocks of Hulhumale' Halfway House on Sunday, November 13.

The new blocks of Halfway House along with a rehabilitation center for women was developed by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). The project was executed by MTCC as part of its CSR initiatives.

The new establishment was developed at the plot where the old Halfway House stood. The new block construction ran simultaneous with renovation of the old building.

Hulhumale' Halfway House and the rehabilitation center were opened by the President's Social Policy Advisor Dr. Musthafa Luthfee.

At the inaugural ceremony, National Drug Agency (NDA) Chief Executive Imad Solih spoke intimately on challenges faced by local authorities in their rehabilitation efforts. Imad notes that though Maldives began its anti-drug campaign back in 2012, the authorities were in need of statistical and research data providing insight into the field. Despite the challenges, Imad adds authorities now have a prospective road map in their efforts against drugs or illicit narcotics.

"This is an effort at the national level. Proceeded with priority, and this cannot be carried by NDA alone," he said.

NDA's Chairman of the board and Deputy Minister of Ministry of Health Shamau Shareef notes his most upsetting experience were parents' request to send their children to prison over drug abuse. Shamau recounts multiple parents have pushed forward similar requests to relevant authorities during the past year.

Shareef addressed his delight with the Halfway House's opening, noting the efforts for after-care and reintegration of patients following cleansing will now be bolstered.

While a new rehabilitation center for women has been opened at the Halfway House establishment, the previously used center at Kaafu Atoll Himmafushi will close down. The new center holds capacity to treat 20 patients simultaneously, while Halfway House can accommodate 58 individuals post residential center treatment.

With a new and improved establishment opened for drug abusers, in their commitment to rehabilitate, NDA earlier announced it will launch a national drug policy. Shamau notes this policy will bring significant changes to the entire law enforcement system.

Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem, who graced the inaugural ceremony, said "We could imprison individuals for the offense [of drug abuse]. But this will not resolve the issue at hand. They should be convinced that this [rehabilitation] is the right way to go".

The minister also bemoaned lack of psychiatric counsellors, adding that state will attempt to facilitate counselling services for patients through established medical institutions.