The National Drug Agency (NDA) has tasked the State-owned Road Development Corporation (RDC) to build drug rehabilitation centers in three islands.
RDC has been awarded the contract by NDA to build the rehab centers in Velidhoo, Noonu Atoll, Kaashidhoo, Kaafu Atoll and Gan, Laamu Atoll.
Acting CEO Mohamed Rashid signed the agreement on behalf of the NDA while Managing Director Brigadier General Retd Ali Zuhair signed on behalf of RDC.
According to the NDA, the land for the center in Velidhoo has already been allocated while the process is underway to allocate land for the project in the remaining two islands.
Speaking after signing the contract, Rashid said the construction of these rehab centers will facilitate more patients to access drug treatment and rehabilitation. It will also help patients in the Atolls to avoid coming all the way to the capital Male’ for treatment.
There are a total of six drug rehabilitation centers in the country. These centers can treat about 570 people at a time. Due to high demand, NDA has already stretched patient admissions well beyond the total capacity of 570 patients across the half a dozen centers. Despite the effort, there are still about 100 people who have yet to start their court ordered treatment.