TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- More than 500 people participated in the Department of Health (DOH) Region 02’s anti-drug abuse walk campaign in this city on Thursday morning, November 23.
DOH Chief Health Professions Officer Doctor Adelina Acosta said the campaign aims to increase awareness to drug addiction and to inform the public of DOH’s Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in San Antonio, City of Ilagan, Isabela.
Delegates from the Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Cagayan Provincial Health Office joined the walk which ran from Cagayan Sports Complex to People’s Gym, this city.
Students, barangay workers, and municipal health officers in Cagayan’s local government units also joined in the walk.
Doctor Acosta said they were expecting around 260 participants but the actual numbers exceeded their expectations.
Meanwhile, the regional rehabilitation center’s legal officer lawyer Nash Lasam said, “We are promoting the notion that drug addiction is not a crime [but] it is a disease. We could help people who are into addiction to have their own life back.”
“It’s very hard when there is a stigma when you are into rehab but I think we are promoting that it’s one step for making yourself better; and we are here to give those services to you,” she added.
DOH is also promoting the first regional rehabilitation center in City of Ilagan which can accommodate up to 50 patients. Northernforum.net
