Office of the Medical Superintendent, Government District Hospital Kargil observed World Mental Health Day themed, ‘Drug and Substance Abuse’ on October 10 at Tourist Facilitation Centre, Biamathang.

While expressing grave concern over the rising number of cases related to drug abuse especially among the youth, Feroz Ahmed Khan, CEC, Kargil urged parents to strive hard to fill the communication gap between them and their children, keep a constant eye on their daily activities and try to understand their choices in terms of their career decisions and support them fully to boost their morale.

EC, Health, Muhammad Ali Chandan sharing the experiences of his student days said that while our students go outside for higher studies and in case if they are not able to achieve their career goals, a negative tendency builds up which pushes them to take wrong steps. He said that at such point in time, we should be very cautious about our steps and refrain ourselves from taking the wrong path.

He also proposed that the Health Department, Education Department and various religious organisations should come together and hold similar programmes at school level in future.

DC Kargil, Baseer ul Haq Choudhary while speaking on the occasion underlined the need to strengthen the family institution. He said that family as an institution plays a pivotal role in shaping our moral and ethical character and hence parents, as well as children, must come together and build this institution strong enough so that trust is built between them.

Meanwhile, the representatives of AJUIAK and IKMT urged the youth not to indulge in drug and substance abuse which as per the religious perspective are sinful activities.

They stressed that people should obey the sharia laws, abstain from self-harm which is strictly prohibited in religion and follow the teachings of Quran.

Nodal Officer Mental Health District Hospital, Kargil, Dr. Fatima Nissa elaborated upon the stigma attached to mental health in society. She said initially people were quite hesitant to talk about their mental health as they had a certain phobia but gradually with the help of counselling programmes at community level people started coming to us.

She further stated that the numbers of mental disorder cases have gone up in the district during the lockdown period which needs to be addressed and the department is taking required steps on this front.

A memento of appreciation to Razia Bilquis who has been volunteering for the last several years to help out the youths who have indulged in drug abuse was presented.

Students of Munshi Habibullah Mission School Kargil raised anti-drug slogans such as, ”Don’t be a slave to drugs”, “ Stop drugs today and live tomorrow”, ” Drug is a poison that kills my ambition” etc.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kargil, Dr. Munawar Hussain Wazir expressed gratitude to the guests, participants and students for the successful culmination of the programme.

He assured that Health Department Kargil will make continue efforts to free the society from mental disorders, drugs and substance abuse.