Commemorating the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT), USAID’s RenewHealth project hosted a joint event, the “Kapamilyang Kalinga sa Pagbangon Laban sa Droga”, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), and the Dangerous Drugs Board.
The event emphasizes the key role of family in the recovery and rehabilitation of people who use drugs (PWUDs). “This year’s IDADAIT celebration is important because it recognizes the role of family members in seeking help, treatment, and recovery of PWUDs.,” said Dr. Regina M. Hechanova Alampay, Chief of Party of the USAID RenewHealth Project as she welcomed participants.
The coming together of family, community, and various sectors for stronger evidence-based programs is necessary for PWUDs to make significant steps to influence healthy behaviors, as Dr. Beverly C. Ho, the Director of the Health Promotion Bureau and the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the Department of Health stressed. Family is the recovery capital of PWUDs. They are the first people they seek help from for personal issues like drug use. Recovery is easier, safer, and speedier with a strong family support system. That’s why it becomes even more important to properly educate family members on how they can properly guide a loved one suffering from substance use or addiction.
The RenewHealth project developed informational comics, a flyer, and a booklet that local government partners can use in their house-to-house and outreach campaigns. These materials provide information on what family members can do to help someone who can go for screening and treatment. The step-by step care guide will be useful for local government partners when they conduct outreach activities to promote Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation (CBDR) services. These materials are available in #Bawat Simula Facebook page and the CBDR portal (www.cbdr.org).
Undersecretary Joseline Niwane of the DSWD also announced a significant development in supporting the family. She announced the DSWD’s initiative in partnership with USAID RenewHealth Project, the Yakap Bayan Program, supports recovering persons and children who use drugs towards reintegration into families and communities, transforming them into productive members of their families and society.
The highlight of the event was the announcement of winners for the CBDR Community Champions Video Contest. LGUs across the country submitted their own take of the song, “Adhikain,” judged by Lalaine F. Divina of the Dangerous Drug Board, and Jules Sabile of the Department of Health.
Winning the Best Use of the RenewHealth’s SBCC Material was the City of Pasig. General Santos City won Best Dance Choreography and Over-all Second Runner-up. First Runner-up went to CSWD-Oro Citizen’s Wellness and Development Center of Cagayan de Oro. And winning the highest prize, the Champion of the CBDR Champions Video Contest was the Manila Anti-Drug Abuse Office – Manila Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. Ending on a high note, USAID RenewHealth also announced that official choreography to the “Adhikain” song would be released to serve as an icebreaker in treatment sessions, allowing for easier community engagement. To close the event, Assistant Secretary Maria Belen Angelita Matibag, Deputy Executive Director for Operations of the Dangerous Drugs Board shared her sentiments. “We cannot promise it will be easy, but we will stand with them (PWUDs) in their journey to recovery and a better life”. She promised a more responsive environment for those recovering, in full knowledge that the drug problem can only be addressed through concerted efforts of many fields of expertise towards a common goal. Asec. Matibag closed off her speech and the event with a statement capturing the learnings of the day’s event – “Every PWUD deserves a golden opportunity for a life that matters.”
