The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that it is partnering with the National Rehabilitation Center (NRC) in Abu Dhabi – the national addiction response body in the UAE mandated with rehabilitation and treatment of people addicted to substance abuse – to reinforce its joint drug dependence treatment program across the UAE, region and beyond.
The partnership between the UNODC-WHO and NRC will focus on expanding accessibility to the drug dependence treatment and care, strengthening the scientific base at the international level and developing the human resources at NRC through exposure to global initiatives. This was announced at a press conference held at NRC Headquarters, which was attended by Dr Hamad Bin Abdallah Al Ghaferi, Director General of NRC, and Mr Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UNODC.
As part of the joint program undertaken by UNODC-WHO and NRC, NRC will participate in all technical consultations on the program besides hosting events in Abu Dhabi to highlight the objectives of the program.
The joint program also encompasses training to provide outreach and after care of patients. The Human Resources of NRC will also be developed through international exposure and cross-training and help strengthen the skills to provide services on drug dependence treatment. It also involves implementation of innovative drug use prevention interventions for specific populations that are underserved, develop protocols for evaluation of treatment outcomes, support the sustainability of treatments, and enhance visibility of the need of universal access to drug dependence treatment.
The program focuses on dealing with drugs addiction as a disease that can be prevented and treated, in addition to supporting the public health policies that supports reduction of drug use and abuse which causes health and community burden on the society, besides highlighting the social benefits from investments in drug-related treatments.
The program also emphasizes the inclusion of drug treatments within the normal health and social care systems, besides developing resources specialized in drug addiction treatment, care and reintegration into the society.
The partnership with NRC is aimed at reinforcing the status of NRC as the regional reference centre of excellence for addiction treatment, rehabilitation and prevention.
The NRC is mandated with the responsibility of alleviate the impact of substance abuse on the individual, families and society at large and introduction of treatment and rehabilitation services in line with internationally-acclaimed medical standards. Besides this, NRC is also tasked with equipping the society amidst rising challenges due to the rapid development under way in the region, and to develop the necessary policies to go with sustained growth of Abu Dhabi across sectors. The centre strives to strengthen the leadership in Abu Dhabi and the UAE to continue on its success march and help recognize Abu Dhabi as one of the most prominent capitals in the world.
WAM