Media should disseminate anti drug message to the public – C’bo Plan SG

By Ratnapura Correspondent

Appreciating the attendance of 60 media persons at the two-day Orientation Training on Drug Demand Reduction for the Media, the Secretary General of the Colombo Plan, Dato’ Patricia Yoon-Moi Chia, said that it was their responsibility to disseminate anti-drug message in society.

The two day Orientation Training on Drug Demand Reduction was held at the Institute for Construction, Training and development at Pelawatte, Battaramulla, in collaboration with the Mass Media Forum, Sri Lanka and implemented by the Colombo Plan.

She said this was the time to integrate effective anti-drug messages to reach the public through their media productions.

Ms Dato Patricio Yoon-Moi Chia said a recent survey done in Sri Lanka has revealed that there are some 300,000 youths addicted to drugs and the numbers are ever increasing. The State incurs heavy expenditure on rehabilitating the drug addicts. Interpol had warned the Sri Lanka Police sometime ago that Sri Lanka has become a major transit point for drug smuggling from the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent poppy fields. She cited the previous speaker A. T. Bandara of NDDCB who presented some shocking data on the extent of drug abuse in Sri Lanka. According to Bandara, there are over 45,000 heroin users in Sri Lanka. Most of them are injecting drug users, who are also the most vulnerable to be infected with HIV/AIDs and other blood borne diseases. The panel discussion also highlighted the treatment facilities available in the country. The role and Social responsibility of the media in drug prevention.

The Secretary General stated that the media persons have a significant role to play in their provinces, whichever media they represent. The more people they reach out and help, the more families and lives they will be able to save.

She said that this year, they celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Colombo Plan. Besides, the anti-drug messages in their media productions, she also would like to see articles and media production on the Colombo Plan and its initiatives in the region, particularly in Sri Lanka. She invited the Mass Media Forum to join in celebrations of the 60thAnniversary on July 1, 2011 in several activities, eg. Seminar on South South Co-operation on 1 July and an International Bazaar on 2 July, 2011.