The Press Conference organized by RHRN regarding ANA’s reorganization and reorganization
The 18th of March, 2009
The Romanian Harm Reduction Network (RHRN) will organize tomorrow, Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 10:00, to the Headquarters of the Romanian Association against AIDS (ARAS), 5 Mihai Eminescu Entrance St., a Press Conference in order to state its position towards the Government Ordinance issued in the Official Monitor, part I, no 156/12.03.2009. The mentioned normative act stipulates the fact that the organization and function of the National Antidrug Agency (ANA) will be under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior and Administration.
The RHRN member associations want to attract the payment of attention of the Romanian Authorities' representatives, grant makers and HIV/AIDS prevention programs for drug users, adequate international institutions and public opinion on the fact that the decision was taken having no previous consultancy of the civil society. ANA will get completely controlled by the Romanian Police General Inspectorate while the treatment centers for drug users will get controlled and administrated by the Ministry of Health.
As service providers and representatives of the patients, who are in substitution treatment, the RHRN member organization consider that the ANA's reorganization and the socio-medical services' transfer by another institution will cause a major block in ensuring the continuous substitution treatment. For the over 200 patients, who are already benefiting of this treatment, this decision may lead to going back to drug use and its associated risks.
Within the tomorrow's Press Conference, it will be read the open letter that states the NGOs position towards ANA's reorganization.
You can read here the RHRN Press Release!
