THE Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas launched the Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP) at the Bacolod Government Center Friday, September 22.
Dr. May Ann Sta. Lucia, regional VIPP coordinator, said Friday the VIPP is one of the programs that will cater to all forms of injuries such as road crash, interpersonal violence, including bullying and violence against women and children, drowning, self-harm or suicide, burns and fireworks-related injuries, and poisoning.
The activity was attended by personnel of City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Department of Social Services and Development, Bacolod City Police Office, Department of Education, City Health Office, and the city officials.
Sta. Lucia said the program was based on Administrative Order 2014-0022 Revised National Policy on violence and injury prevention which serves as the overarching Administrative Order of different policies concerning violence and injuries and shall include the service delivery mechanism and the well-defined roles and responsibility of DOH and other major players.
The VIPP aims to reduce the number of deaths from violence injuries, disability caused by violence injury, and to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders in the prevention of violence and injury.
Sta. Lucia said their top most, cases are road crash, suicide, and drowning.
"Globally millions of people died due to road crash and suicide, yearly," she said.
She added that in 2014, Region 6 was top three in the country with the highest cases of suicide.
The VIPP is conducting forums in various schools in the region to help reduce the number of suicide cases.
Sta. Lucia said teenagers are usually prone to suicide and most of the victims were male.
She said in 2016, Bacolod City has a total of 22 suicide cases.
"This month, we are celebrating the World Suicide Prevention Day with the theme 'Take a minute, change a life.' It is our responsibility to look out for those who may suffering depression, talk to them, and offer a gentle word of support," she added.