OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Effective Development Communications Unit
DOH trains municipal health teams for Community Based Drug Rehabilitation Program
“Who will save Bohol? It’s going to be us,”- Gov. Chatto
Municipal teams composed of the chief of police, municipal health officer, social worker, public health nurse, municipal local government operations officers, the president of the league of barangays, representative from the religious sector underwent 3-day training on Community Based Drug Rehabilitation Program from the Department of Health (DOH).
DOH is performing mandate to provide treatment and rehabilitation for drug “surrenderers” as part of commitment toward the “Health for All, All for Health” battle cry under the administration of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
The agency maintains drug use and addiction is a health concern. According to DOH, addiction is a disease. It’s a brain disease. It is brought about by imbalance of chemicals in the brain because of chemicals that you put in your body.
Following establishment of the Center for Drug Education and Counseling (CEDEC) at the Oak Brook Building by the Provincial Government in partnership with DOH and the Bohol Island Lions Club, Gov. Edgar Chatto welcomed the training for municipalities.
The CEDEC will be model for centers to be established across municipalities, the teams from each town now having undergone training from the DOH.
“Who will save Bohol? It’s going to be us,” Chatto stated to participants at the training, likening the response to the drug war to the comprehensive and collaborative response to when the earthquake happened in Bohol.
“We receive a lot of help and we thank the people who are helping us. But we are the ones who will take Bohol to greater heights,” the governor added.
Chatto said the community-based program ensures Boholanos owned and won the drug war through active involvement and collaboration.
The program is aimed at strengthening knowledge and better understanding on how they can properly assess the drug dependent/user surrenderers to ensure that proper recommendations can be made for them.
An important aspect is also the proper determination of the level of addiction of a patient so that needed intervention can be classified as needed.
Patients are also assessed according to whether they need to be treated as outpatient, provided with counseling by psychiatrist, or are required to be referred to a mental health institution or facility wherein their condition can be managed.
An aspect also includes assessment for referrals for livelihood or financial assistance.
The program also includes family support group as in some cases, family and financial problems can also be traced as reasons why people are hooked to drug addiction.
Also integrated into the program is the Masa Masid (Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga) program of the DILG, a barangay-based anti-criminality, anti-corruption, and anti-illegal drugs program which encourages multi-sectoral partnership to intensify the spirit of volunteerism at the community level.
The municipalities were divided into two batches in three simultaneous venues. The first batch included teams from Duero, Anda, Ubay, Pres. CPG, Talibon and Buenavista; Catigbian, Bilar, Carmen, Danao, Sikatuna and Lila; and Tagbilaran City, Dauis, Alburquerque, Dimiao, Garcia and Jagna
Batch 2 included Tubigon I, Calape, Loon II, Cortes, Balilihan I, and San Isidro; Candijay, Ubay II, Trinidad, Getafe, Inabanga, Tubigon II, Sierra Bohol Plaza Bullones, and Mabini; Batuan, San Miguel, Sagbayan, Clarin, Bien Unido and Dagohoy; Loon I, Maribojoc, Corella, Balilihan II, Antequera, Loboc, Sevilla and Alicia; and Baclayon, Panglao, Loay, Valencia, Jagna II, Guindulman, and Pilar. (Leah/EDCOM)
