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

The Catholic Church's social action arm Caritas BARACA received a State Award on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in recognition of its services in the field of drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation in Bangladesh.
 
Brother Nirmal Francis Gomes, the director of BARACA, received the award from the Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzaman Khan MP at the celebration of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Osmani Memorial Hall, Dhaka in Bangladesh on June 26.
 
"I am impressed by the good work that the Church in Bangladesh has fully cooperated with the project since the beginning through its Religious and lay collaborators in the country,” said the minister.
 
Director General (Additional) of the Drug Control Department Azizul Islam and Md. Mokabbir Hossain, Secretary of Security Services Department of Home Ministry were present as special guests in the event chaired by Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku MP, chairperson, Department of Home Affairs, Bangladesh Parliament.
 
Receiving the award, Holy Cross Gomes said, "We are happy to announce that Caritas BARACA secured second place as the best organization for exemplary activities of drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.”
 
On the occasion of 34 years of completion of BARACA's establishment on July 1, 2022, this state recognition is dedicated to BARACA's founding director late Holy Cross Brother Ronald Drahozal, along with former directors late Brother Dr. Harold Bijoy Rodriques CSC and late Holy Cross Brother Robi T. Purification as well as all the staff, clients, parents, and well-wishers of BARACA.
 
"We express our sincere thanks to the Bangladesh government, Home Ministry, and Drug Control Department. BARACA received this prestigious award for the third time from the Government of Bangladesh,” said Brother Gomes, a human rights activist.
 
He also thanked predecessors, managing committee members, different organizations, local people, staff members, former and present clients, and government officials for their support and cooperation.
 
Caritas BARACA centre offers four-month-long live-in rehabilitation for drug addicts. During the period, they receive personal counseling, family and group therapy, educational classes, and occupational, relaxation and recreational therapies.  
 
The programme also includes family anonymous meetings, home visits, self-help support groups, follow-up and aftercare. After completing the rehabilitation programme, “graduates” strive to maintain "clean birthdays" and anniversaries marking each year they continue to be drug-free.
 
Other BARACA activities include awareness programmes, networking among drug-addict centers, running a drop-in-center in Dhaka, vocational training, and activities designed to prevent HIV and AIDS, as well as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
 
The present recovery rate of BARACA trainees is around 38%, which is the highest throughout Bangladesh.