VSMMC: NO DUMPING SITE!: Families of mentally ill patients urged to help hospital and gov't

An official of the Psychiatric Ward of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center called on families and relatives of mentally retarded (MR) persons confined at the hospital to help the government in taking care of these persons.

Dr. Robert Cañete, deputy ward chief, lamented that instead of helping the government, families of people with MR cases are making the hospital a "dumping site" of these persons.

The worst thing is that after patients with MR cases "are dumped into the ward, their families and relatives no longer exert effort to take care of them," Cañete said.

"Ang nakapait kay sa higayon nga among ihatod ngadto sa pinuy-anan niya ang usa ka mentally retarded person, dili na dawaton sa ilang pamilya," Cañete said.

He added that "a couple of times, families and relatives got mad at us for taking back these persons to their homes."

Although he did not drop any names, Cañete said he has the list of those families who showed disregard for their family members or relatives who are mentally ill.

The VSMMC psychiatric ward has only a 60-bed capacity, but Cañete reported of 108 patients now confined in said ward.

Cañete stressed that "the government doesn't have enough funds to sustain the care of the ward's mentally retarded patients. Families must also help the government." - Gregg M. Rubio/MEEV