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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1979
W.H.O. OFFICIAL PRAISES HK'S DRUG TREATMENT AND
REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES
******
HONG KONG IS TO BE THE VENUE FOR A WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (W.H.O.) INTER-REGIONAL TRAINING COURSE FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDENT PERSONS IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR, THE HEAD OF THE W.H.O. DRUG DEPENDENCE PROGRAMME, DR. AWNI ARIF, ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
+1 HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING THE WHOLE RANGE OF HONG KONG'S TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES DURING MY VISIT THIS WEEK, AND HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT, AND THE DEDICATION OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM, DR. ARIF SAID.
HE HAS HAD TALKS WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. PETER E, I, LEE THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR. T.G. GARNER THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (NARCOTICS) OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DR. K.F. CHAN AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (OPERATIONS) OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MRS. EVELYN DOE.
HE HAD ALSO VISITED GOVERNMENT'S TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTRES AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ABUSERS (SARDA) AND THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
DR. ARIF SAID HE AND MR. LEE FIRST DISCUSSED THE HOLDING OF A TRAINING COURSE IN HONG KONG DURING THE FIFTH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON NARCOTICS DRUGS IN GENEVA IN 1978.
THE TRAINEES ATTENDING THE COURSE WILL BE MEDICAL DOCTORS FROM AFGHANISTAN, EGYPT, PAKISTAN, BURMA, THAILAND, MALAYSIA, THE PHILIPPINES AND INDONESIA IN THREE OF W.H.O.'S REGIONS (EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, SOUTHEAST ASIA AND WESTERN PACIFIC).
THE FOUR-WEEK TRAINING COURSE AIMS AT PROVIDING AN IN-DEPTH STUDY INTO THE LATEST ANTI-NARCOTICS TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION POLICIES AND METHODS.
TOPICS WILL INCLUDE THE MEDICAL, BEHAVIOURAL AND SOCIAL TREATMENT OF DRUG DEPENDENCE, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS, EDUCATION AND PREVENTION, LEGISLATION AND TRAINING SKILLS.
DR. ARIF COMPLETES HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG TOMORROW (SATURDAY) WHEN HE LEAVES FOR A W.H.O. MEETING IN PENANG, MALAYSIA, ON THE EP IDEMOLOGY OF DRUG DEPENDENCE, BEFORE RETURNING TO W.H.O. HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA.
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