TAGUM CITY- The Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) educated the public on the harm caused by drug abuse through a live press conference during the Kapihan sa DRMC on August 10, 2016.
The activity is in celebration with Hospital Week with the theme: “Hospital Kaagapay Para sa Malusog na Isip at katawan tungo sa Pagbabago.” During the live press conference, Department of Health (DOH)-XI psychologist Zander Von Baylon explained the harmful effects brought by the abuse of drugs, which has become one of the huge problem the entire world is facing right now.
“Drug addiction is a global problem. A form of mental illness, a disease that causes a person to lose control over use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD).
The loss of control causes physical, psychological, social and spiritual problem. It is a kind of brain disease, changing the structure of the brain. If brain is damaged, it is permanent,” Baylon said.
He also discussed that this mental illness will bring personal, emotional, and spiritual bankruptcy and familial problems besides the physical manifestation of the illness. He added drug dependents start with experimentation, then for recreation, that will result to regular use, until it turns into an addiction that causes mental illness.
It is difficult for drug dependents to stop and let go of the vice. Baylon also said that the 8,000 drug surrenderees from the province requires profiling to determine which of them need rehabilitation.
Besides the reiteration of the harmful effects of drugs, Medical Center Chief II Dr. Bryan Dalid also explained regarding some complains they have received about the shortage of doctors and medicine, and that they view them as constructive criticism to further provide a better public service.
He added regarding on the issue of shortage in medicine that there are a lot of factors to be considered, especially the process on how the government purchases medicine under RA 918 or Government Procurement Reform Act.
The new DRMC Chief said that they direly need more doctors because of the conversion of the hospital from 200 to 600 bed capacity. He lamented that many doctors are not interested in entering government hospitals because of the low salary compared to private hospitals.
It was recalled that the law which facilitated the conversion of the 200 bed capacity of Regional Hospital to 600 bed capacity Davao Regional Medical Center was primarily authored by then 1st District Congressman Anthony del Rosario, who is now the new governor of the Province of Davao del Norte. (PIO DavNor)
