Funds, structural design approved for region’s drug rehab facility

Funds and a structural design for a huge drug treatment and rehabilitation center (TRC) for Central Visayas that can house hundreds of patients has already been acquired, said an executive of the Department of Health (DOH)-7.

DOH-7 Medical Officer Dr. Dino Caing, however, said the local government still has to resolve the legal issues concerning the place where the facility will be constructed. It was initially planned to be built at a military camp in Carmen, Bohol.

Caing heads the Non-Communicable Disease Section that oversees the Substance Abuse and Aftercare Program of DOH-7.

He said that during the recent meeting with all stakeholders, the proponents revealed that the P500-million budget for the project has been allocated already through private donations.

He said the building's bed capacity ranges from 200 to 300 that would accommodate patients with severe condition in need of intensive treatment.

He added severe cases of drug addiction may be associated with psychiatric and psychological problems, which would need inpatient treatment.

Caing said the DOH-designed program runs for at least six months that entails rigid and intensive management and treatment.

He said the health department has targeted Bohol province for the construction, but it will be open anywhere in the entire Central Visayas region.

He said Bohol, among the three Central Visayas provinces, has the second highest number of drug dependents profiled by the police.

There is no large-scale rehab center yet established in Bohol.

He said the province's services are only limited to small rehabilitation facilities and health desk without admissions.

He added people assessed with severe conditions are being referred to Cebu's existing centers, which are the DOH-attached treatment and rehab center in Argao town (male dormitory) and the Eversley Child's Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City (female dormitory).

There had been an influx of drug users that surrendered to authorities after the government intensified its drive against illegal drugs.

But the large number could hardly be accommodated at the government-managed rehab centers, while private facilities charge patients exorbitant prices.

This concern prompted the national government to build more rehab facilities across the country, including Bohol.