BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The thrust of the Baguio City government to foster services with compassion continues to help vagrants with psychosis. Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO) Mental Health and Substance Use Unit program manager Ricky Ducas Jr. said under the compassionate city campaign, they aim to rescue psychotic vagrants and help them to be productive.
“Kahit na wala pong family, at least hindi po siya nagro-roam sa city na maduming tignan. At the same time, makakapasok siya sa mga establishment without judgement. ‘Yun naman po ang goal natin sa compassionate city program po natin,” Ducas explained.
The CHSO assists the vagrants with their basic care like personal hygiene such as bathing . They are visited by health practitioners to check on their well-being.
“Tayo lang po ‘yung nagbibigay everyday ng kaniyang medication until na sa follow-up check up hanggang sa maging okay ‘yung behavior,” Ducas added.
The CHSO recorded around 20 to 25 vagrants with psychosis in the city. Most of them are from outside Baguio.
“Hindi rin po namin alam paano po sila nakapunta dito. However, there are some people with mental illness na naglalakad lakad po talaga sila. At hindi po walang kapaguran yon until makarating po sila dito. ‘Yung iba naman okay tignan, sumakay ng bus tapos dito na nag-relapse or hindi naggamot or na-stress kaya napunta nalang po sa streets po natin,” he stated.
The CHSO has been conducting regular rescue to have these psychotic vagrants treated until they reintegrate with their families.
However, some of them keep coming back to the streets leaving the office with no other recourse but to just monitor and administer basic care to them.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong has already directed the enhanced collaboration among offices to better address the problem on psychotic vagrants in the city. [JDP/DEG/Jairus Gabriel Cardinoza- PIA-SLU Intern]
