INCB launches Spanish versions of e-learning modules @63CND side event
VIENNA, 3 March 2020 - At a side event of the 63rd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) launched the Spanish versions of e-learning modules developed through its INCB Learning initiative.
The event was organized by the Government of El Salvador in cooperation with INCB and the Governments of Australia, Belgium, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, the Russian Federation and Singapore. H.E. Ms. Julia Emma Villatoro Tario, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations in Vienna, moderated the event.
In his introductory remarks, the INCB President, Cornelis P. de Joncheere, emphasized the relevance of the INCB e-learning modules to support Governments in estimating their licit requirements of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical use and in establishing annual legitimate requirements for precursors chemicals.
Dr. Mónica Guadalupe Ayala Guerrero, Executive Director of the National Directorate of Medicines of El Salvador, highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional capacity and expressed appreciation for technical assistance provided by INCB Learning, including in a regional seminar to be hosted by El Salvador.
Dr. Oxana Guseva, Assistant to the Minister of Health, Russian Federation, reiterated the commitment of the Government of the Russian Federation to continue contributing to initiatives of the Board and made reference to the support provided to INCB Learning for the implementation of a recent training seminar held in Moscow for Russian-speaking countries.
The importance of ensuring adequate access to controlled substances for medical use was stressed by Prof. Dr. Guy Hans, specialist in anaesthesiology and professor in pain medicine at the University of Antwerp, while the impact of training to prevent the diversion of controlled substances and their precursor chemicals was recognized by Mr. Carlos Charme Fuentes, National Director, National Service for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Drug and Alcohol Consumption (SENDA) of Chile.
Dr. Francis Rafael Contreras, President Commissioner, Sanitary Regulation Agency (ARSA) of Honduras, who had participated in an INCB Learning seminar in Vienna in January 2019, echoed other speakers in noting the role of training of government experts to ensure adequate availability of controlled substances.
The statement read on behalf of H.E. Mr. Arnaldo Giuzzio Mendez, Minister of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) of Paraguay emphasized the "new wave of opportunities" that the INCB e-learning modules present for Spanish-speaking countries and the relevance of technical assistance for the implementation of the international drug control conventions.
Mr. Alexander Kasanof, Director of Global Policy and Programs, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the United States, stressed the impact on regional cooperation of training provided through INCB Learning seminars and e-learning modules. Founding support of INL enabled the launch of the INCB Learning project in 2016.
Finally, Mr. George Masri, Assistant Secretary, Office of Drug Control, Department of Health of Australia, reiterated the long-standing commitment of Australia to INCB Learning and encouraged Member States to make full use of its tools.
A Press Release is available here.
The INCB President's statement at the side event is available here.