SUMAR: Health trains officials and educational community of Caaguazú to prevent drug use

Psychoeducational talks by the Ministry of Health to the educational community of Caaguazú. Photo courtesy.-

Asuncion, IP Agency.- The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS) is promoting training and updating sessions on the prevention of problematic consumption of psychoactive substances, within the framework of the Sumar Plan, for white-collar officials in Asunción and for the educational community of the department of Caaguazú.

The National Directorate of Mental Health and the National Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions (CENPTRA) are promoting several actions to carry out the first axis of prevention and the second axis of treatment and rehabilitation of people for the reintegration of those who suffer from drug dependency.

In this regard, those responsible for the Department of Teaching and Research, as well as the Department of Prevention of CENPTRA, provided an update on the approach to these issues to psychologists, social workers, and doctors of the National Center.

Group psychoeducational sessions were also promoted for users and family members of the health system to encourage citizen participation in strategies and actions to prevent problematic consumption of psychoactive substances.

Health and Education work in the educational community

The awareness and prevention days are part of an inter-ministerial strategy to address addictions. In Axis 1 of the SUMAR Plan, which deals with prevention, work is being done in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and Science (MEC).

Discussions were also held with the educational community of Caaguazú, aiming to raise awareness regarding the physical, psychological and social effects of drug use, by the Health Program and Mental Health Unit of the V Health Region.

Regarding treatment and rehabilitation axis 2, the Ministry of Health seeks to provide comprehensive options for the reintegration of people who suffer from substance dependence through various alternatives, including primary care in the Family Health Units (USF) of Capital and Central.

In addition, training for staff at reference health facilities for outpatient addiction care. Training on the MHGAP Intervention Guide for mental, neurological and substance use disorders at the non-specialized health care level.

The SUMAR Plan is a joint effort by the Government of Paraguay to prevent, rehabilitate and combat the problem of drug abuse in the country.