Headline :NGOs to get cash incentives

Publication :
NEW SUNDAY TIMES
Date :27/06/2004
Page:06
Byline :By Joseph Bingkasan; Koh Lay Chin; R. S. Kamini
Type :News

KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - Some of more successful privately-run drug rehabilitation programmes in the country are likely to get a major cash boost from the Government.
This is a reward for the sterling work they are doing in getting drug addicts to kick the habit and stay clean.
The non-governmental organisations who run these centres may also be invited to run any of the 28 Government rehabilitation centres.
The move to give them financial assistance is among the moves being considered by the Government as part of its revamp of the drug treatment policy.
At the moment, 66 drug rehabilitation centres are managed by non-governmental organisations.
Internal Security Deputy Minister Datuk Noh Omar told the New Sunday Times: "We must also take care of the NGOs, we must work together. We must help them, give them financial llocations."
He acknowledged that the relapse rate was lower in centres run by NGOs than in the 28 Government-run rehabilitation centres, known as Pusat Serenti.
Noh said that there was a need to find out which NGOs were most successful in their treatment methods, and also be open to the idea of employing different approaches in treating addicts .
Beside offering financial assistance, NGOs may also be allowed to run any of the 28 Pusat Serenti using their own rehabilitation programmes.
"My proposal is that effective NGOs' programmes could be adopted by the Government," he added.
Several NGOs responded positively to the growing recognition of their efforts by the Government.
Pax Tan, Malaysia Care's senior director of prison, drugs and AIDS services, said: "The move to finance NGOs is long overdue and had been suggested by numerous organisations involved with drug treatment."

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