DOH eyes training 800 nurses on community-based drug rehab

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 17 (PNA) -– The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here is eyeing to train a total of 800 public health nurses to assist in the rehabilitation of thousands of self-confessed drug dependents in Eastern Visayas.

The health department completed last week the training for 300 nurses, representing the first batch of local health workers primarily tasked to assess the status of surrendered drug personalities.

DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon said they are seeking more funds to train more local health workers, including city and municipal health officers.

The initiative prioritizes health workers trained by the national government to deal with cases of mental disorders after super typhoon Yolanda ravaged the region in 2013.

“Currently, the DOH-Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (TRC) has only 10 assessors with a capability to evaluate 60 drug dependents daily,” Molon told reporters.

The DOH will also meet provincial health officers to find out which district hospitals have less utilization. These health facilities can be tapped for outpatient program and temporary confinement of drug dependents with mental disorders.

The health department earlier deployed 1,600 nurses and half will be tasked to assist in community-based drug rehabilitation and treatment. The remaining will retain their post as implementers of health programs.

Eastern Visayas has only one state-run drug treatment and rehabilitation facility located in Dulag, Leyte. The center, which will reopen next month, can only accommodate up to 100 drug dependents.

The DOH-TRC will soon complete the PHP30 million reconstruction activity of its compound damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

From July 1 to mid-August this year, the Philippine National Police has already registered about 17,000 drug personalities who yielded to authorities. (PNA)

LAP/SQM