DOH-10 trains physicians for community drug rehab program

• Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1009778
• Monday, July 2, 2018

By Jasper Marie O. Rucat (JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Department of Health (DOH)-10 has trained its physicians, paramedics and barangay health workers (BHWs) on proper identification and classification of drug dependency level of Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) as part of the ongoing community drug rehab program of the government.

DOH Regional Director Nimfa B. Torrizo during the Talakayan sa PIA on June 26 shared, this is crucial to identify needed intervention or management for the drug dependents.

The regional director said they have conducted seven batches of training for Municipal Health Officers, nurses and paramedics from September 2016 to November 2016.

Meanwhile, from August to September 2017, a total of 157 physicians and paramedics and 185 BHW presidents and coordinators were trained for community mental health – substance use disorder.

As of now, there are 75 local government units (LGUs) engaged in the program, 45,294 PWUDs screened and assessed, 6,306 graduates/ completers and 16,682 currently enrolled in the said program.

Torrizo shared they were caught off guard with the overwhelming influx of PWUDs in Region 10.

Based on a report, Northern Mindanao ranked second in the most number of surrenderers with 72,288 recorded by Philippine National Police (PNP). Although the training were hampered last year due to Marawi siege, DOH continues to implement Dangerous Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program.

Dr. Benson Go of DOH Drug Rehab and Treatment Center said it takes six months to treat an in-patient.

“Daghan tag asikasohon, aside sa physical dependence, naa pud ta'y psychological dependence. Aside from that, ato pa silang i-rehabilitate unsaon nato nga mabalik siya as a productive member of society (We attend to so many things, aside from physical dependence, there is also psychological dependence. We also rehabilitate them how we can bring him back as a productive member of society)," explained Go.

We test their physical, emotional and spiritual needs to be rehabilitated back to society, he added.

The treatment center in Cagayan de Oro City is already crowded; patients are coming in from all over Mindanao. He said, however, there is an upcoming drug treatment center in Malaybalay, Bukidnon which would allow better distribution of in-patients.

DOH has a standardized assessment tool.

Go said they have a checklist to determine the classification of a drug dependent such as low, average or severe. If the patient is classified low, the center will put him in the community-based treatment program; moderate could be for out-patient services. If the outpatient improves, he or she can go to a community-based treatment program, if not, the patient needs to go to a treatment facility. The DOH drug treatment facility in CDO, located in Upper Puerto, costs Php6,000 per month per person.

Go explained that although there is a payment from the patient, this being a government facility, also considers the paying capacity of the drug dependent. Some are not charged while some only pay 25 percent of the amount. Based on their computation, he revealed that the government is spending Php20,000 per month per person in the rehab center. He said the government is spending a lot to treat a person who uses drugs.