THE City Council committee on health and sanitation and health insurance chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes Gaane is slated to tackle the special report of Councilor Edna Dahino during the recent regular session on the plight of mentally-challenged individuals.
The committee is set to discuss the matter today at 10:00 am at the City Council Session Hall. Invited to attend the meeting are the city administrator, city health officer, Dr. Magda Juan of JR Borja General Hospital, city legal officer, representatives of City Social Welfare Department, Community Relations Unit of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office, House of Hope, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development-10.
It may be recalled that Dahino, chair of the committee on women and family relations, aired the problem raised by the officers of the Women and Children Protection Desk in the city regarding the rescue of individuals with mental health problems, who are vulnerable and at risk of harm.
According to Dahino, WCPD officers cannot say no to every call for rescue of these persons. Officers are always at a loss where to turn them over as there is no temporary shelter available and no proper protocol in place regarding the rescue, she cited.
Dahino said the officers are instructed to bring mentally-ill patients to the JR Borja General Hospital.
However, the city-owned hospital cannot accommodate such individuals as well as the City Welfare and Development because of lack of facilities, Dahino said.
She suggested that an agreement with the House of Hope be forged as the city at present has no facility to care for these individuals. (sp)
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