Part of the San Pedro City government’s priority projects under Mayor Art Mercado’s ARTgenda is health reform through the city’s local health care system.
And as San Pedrenses wait for the San Pedro Medical Center, this city government does not forget to cater to Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) and give them the same attention medical patients get.
Last December 18, the city government led by Mercado signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health Tagaytay – Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-TTRC) for a partnership to secure and assist drug users who fall under the high-risk category.
The Department of Health Tagaytay – Treatment and Rehabilitation Center formerly known as NBI Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (NBI-TRC) is a drug addiction treatment center located at Trece Martires, Cavite with an accredited bed capacity of 80 inpatients.
High-risk PWUDs are those that are recommended for rehabilitation treatment after undergoing a Drug Dependency Examination.
“Kasi yung mga high risk natin na PWUDs, pagka ang recommendation po sa screening ay for rehab, doon po sa kanila iaadmit,” San Pedro City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) Coordinator Aileen Bigornia explained to OpinYon Laguna.
This meant that PWUDs who are classified as low- and moderate-risk are not included in the MOA.
“Only high risks PWUDs. Sila (kasi) yung kailangan talaga. Merong community-based rehab program, pwede sa CADAC pero pag high risk recommended sa rehab treatment,” Bigornia added.
The partnership is already in effect after the MOA was signed, the CADAC official said, adding that it will be a long-term partnership as the city currently does not have its own rehabilitation center.
Financial help
In addition to the partnership with DOH-TTRC, the city government of San Pedro will also offer financial assistance for PWUDs who will undergo rehabilitation in Tagaytay to enable them to get back on their feet after rehabilitation.
“Meron tayong financial assistance sa PWUDs; kapag di nila kaya yung bayad para marehab yung client, pwedeng i-assist ng city government para sasagutin yung payment,” Bigornia shared.
“Syempre po mas maganda na (rin) may MOA tayo sa rehab kasi yung treatment nila ay talagang tuluy-tuloy tapos less yung babayaran,” she added.
CADAC encouraged PWUDs and their relatives to seek help from them by going to their office located on the second floor of the Old Municipal Building in Barangay Poblacion.
“Ang San Pedro City Anti Drug Abuse council ay nandito para gumabay sa pagbabago ng mga PWUDs natin,” she said.
PHOTO CAPTION:
San Pedro City, Laguna Mayor Art Mercado (third from right), along with officials of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) and the Department of Health Tagaytay - Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-TTRC), sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on assisting the city's former drug dependents, in a ceremony held in Trece Martires City, Cavite last December 18. The MOA aims to establish the partnership between the city government and DOH-TTRC to secure and assist drug users who fall under high-risk category be placed in the proper rehabilitation facility. (Photo courtesy of the San Pedro City Public Affairs and Information Office)