DOH, JICA sign P826M program for drug users’ rehabilitation

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday signed a 1.85-billion yen (P826 million) program to establish and enhance facilities and rehabilitation as well as treatment protocols of drug dependents in the Philippines.

Dubbed as “Consolidated Rehabilitation on Illegal Drug Users (CARE), the program is aligned with the current government’s priorities against illegal drugs, according to Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial.

“CARE aims to provide an opportunity for drug dependents to reduce the risk of relapse, walk through a path or recovery and integrate them back into society,” she said.

“As a long standing friend and development partner of the Philippines, JICA supports DOH towards working for a common vision of a drug-free society,” said JICA chief representative Susumu Ito. “Through this development cooperation we aim to help provide rehabilitation support for drug dependents so eventually they can integrate themselves back into society.”

Government data have shown that majority of drug dependents (53 percent) in the Philippines are unemployed and that there are currently 44 DOH-accredited treatment and rehabilitation centers in the country.  SFM