Allahabad model to spur more mobile detox units in UP

ALLAHABAD: The state would soon have more facilities on the lines Mobile Nasha Mukti Kendra launched by Motilal Nehru Divisional Hospital to help people overcome their addiction to mobile phones.
The state health and family welfare department has ordered districts to kick-start similar facilities across UP, under the National Mental Health Programme (NHMP).
In a letter to chief medical officers (CMOs) and heads of district hospitals on Tuesday, UP director (medical care) Madhu Saxena pointed out the ills of excessive use of mobile phones.
“Addiction to mobile phones is fast becoming a health issue among children and youth. Apart from affecting their physical health, such dependence on technology also hampers their mental well being,” said NHMP’s nodal officer (UP) Dr Sunil Pandey.
Motilal Nehru Divisional Hospital launched its Mobile Nasha Mukti Kendra on Tuesday, the third in UP. Doctors tended to 15 patients, mostly children, on the unit’s inaugural day. The other two de-addiction centres in state are at Varanasi’s Banaras Hindu University and Lucknow’s King George’s Medical University.
Dr Rakesh Paswan, who heads the facility at Motilal Nehru Divisional Hospital, said the clinic would reach out to addicts in two ways.
“Apart from tending to persons who come to our clinic, we would also organise community-level interactions to sensitise people about the mobile phone addiction,” Paswan added.
Saxena also emphasised on starting suicide prevention helplines in the state in her letter.