BARACA receives Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Rehabilitation and Assistance Center for Addicts (BARACA) earned a State Award for their drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation services on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

BARACA, the social action branch of the Catholic Church, received the award on July 30 at the National Theater of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka.

Brother Nirmal Francis Gomes CSC, the Director of BARACA, received this honor from Mr. Asaduzzaman Khan MP, the Home Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

At the event, the Home Minister said, "I am impressed by the excellent work that the Bangladeshi Church has done in supporting the initiative from the start via its lay and religious colleagues across the nation."

The Narcotics Control Directorate of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the People's Republic of Bangladesh awarded BARACA the highest honor for providing the finest treatment service (30–60 bed division category).

BARACA ranked first among the 364 Drug Treatment Centers accredited by the Drug Control Department in Bangladesh.

Nirmal Francis Gomes, upon receiving the award, stated, "The People's Republic of Bangladesh's Ministry of Home Affairs has awarded first place to Caritas BARACA as the most exemplary organization for exceptional drug addiction treatment and recovery programs."

This state recognition is dedicated to BARACA's Founding Director, the late Brother Ronald Drahozal CSC, former Directors, the late Brother Dr. Harold Bijoy Rodriques CSC and late Brother Robi T. Purification CSC, and all staff, clients, recovery, parents, and well-wishers on the occasion of BARACA's 35th anniversary on July 1, 2022.

"We sincerely thank and appreciate the efforts of the Bangladeshi government, the Home Ministry, and the Drug Control Department. For the third time, BARACA was given this distinguished award by the Bangladeshi government," said Brother Nirmal.  

BARACA ranked 2nd in drug addiction treatment and recovery in 2022, 3rd in 2016 and 2nd in 2012.

Since 1988, Caritas Bangladesh's BARACA programme has treated and rehabilitated drug addicts with funding from donors like Caritas Germany (DCV, BMZ) and Luxembourg. It established Bangladesh's first rehabilitation-focused treatment system.

Caritas BARACA Center offers a four-month live-in addiction recovery. They receive personal, family, group, educational, occupational, relaxation, and recreational therapy.

The program involves family anonymous meetings, home visits, family visits, self-help support groups, follow-ups, and aftercare. "Graduates" try to celebrate "clean birthdays" and anniversaries each year they remain drug-free after rehab.

Other BARACA activities include awareness programmes, networking among drug-addict centres, running a drop-in-centre in Dhaka, vocational training, and activities designed to prevent HIV and AIDS, as well as sexually transmitted diseases (STD).

The Bangladeshi government funds private drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation institutions to improve their services. - Nikhil Gomes