The team behind the establishment of Drug Rehabilitation Center held a community meeting on November 26th, 2019 in Ye Township.

The Rehab Center’s Vice-President, and New Mon State Party (NMSP) Dawei District committee member Nai Jaydar Mehn explained, “The community meeting aims to inform local people regarding the objective of establishing the rehabilitation center, the construction and difficulty in the construction process. We have also informed how local people could contribute to the project mainly [in terms of] financial support.”

The rehab center is located near Wai Zin village, 10 miles from eastern Ye Township. Efforts to establish the rehab center started earlier in 2019, but was stalled during the flooding in Mon State in August of this year.

“…only a few building units such as the prison and kitchen are still under construction, we are planning to open the center before the end of 2019. That’s why we held a meeting with local people,” Nai Jaydar Mehn added.

The rehab center team has also met with the community in Mawlamyine to exchange ideas and consult about the implementation of the rehab center plan for a drug addicts last month.

“We truly appreciate what the rehab center team is doing. They have done a great job in explaining and sharing knowledge about methamphetamine pills and Kratom leaves, and what are the possession amounts considered to be illegal and be put in jail,” said Nai Gong Lay a villager from Andin village.

The Rehab Center project was established in 2018 after a Youth and Drug Forum held at the Ko Yin Lay (temple) grounds in Ye Township. The center is operating through a collaborative effort of 45 members, including 15 monks, 15 civil society representatives and 15 members of the NMSP.

Community meeting on the establishment of Drug Rehabilitation Center