Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) has deployed Special Medical Action Response Teams (S.M.A.R.T.) in the five provinces to provide support in the on-going assessment of drug surrenderees.
“The teams will be collaborating with local officials of the Philippine National Police, health workers and local government officials in various municipalities and will assist in the assessment and screening process of drug surrenderees,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated.
“During the screening/assessment process, a drug surrenderee will undergo a brief initial drug screening and when indicated that drug use is the main concern for intervention, a more detailed drug use assessment will be prepared and applied,” he emphasized.
The on-going screening/assessment already evaluated a total of 365 out of 19,570 drug surrenderees in the region since the start of the assessment and screening program on October 25, 2016.
According to the records of the Philippine National Police, as of November 13, 2016, a total of 19,570 drug pushers and drug users have surrendered to local authorities in Mimaropa. There were 154 drug surrenderees screened/assessed in Palawan; 121 in Marinduque; 79 in Oriental Mindoro; 11 in Occidental Mindoro.
The DOH-Mimaropa S.M.A.R.T. members are composed of 35 staff including medical doctors, nurses, psychologists and IT (information technology) staff who will provide support in the screening process.
According to Janairo, the purpose of the on-going screening is to determine whether a drug surrenderee needs assessment. The purpose of assessment is to gather the detailed information needed for a treatment plan that will meet the individual needs of the drug surrenderee.