Twenty-seven persons from healthcare and community organizations were presented certificates Thursday after attending a Training and Certification Program for Drug and Violence Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation (PROCCER) – a course organized by National Anti-Drug Secretariat of the Ministry of National Security.

The programme is an initiative designed by the OAS to develop and strengthen a country’s institutions, policies and strategies regarding treatment and rehabilitation for individuals with problems stemming from drug abuse and violence.

Training started in May 2015 and was completed in September 2015. Classes were held for one week per month over a period of five months to accommodate the five modules addressing these topics: Understanding Drug Misuse: A Trans-Disciplinary Perspective; Professional Ethics, Patient, Family and Community Education; Clinical Evaluation and Coordinating Services; Treatment Plans; and Counselling Skills.

Facilitators included Carolyn Roberts, Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC); Rochelle Basden, SRC; Yvette Elliot, SRC; Aleila Adderley, Health Social Services; and Michelle Lundy, Rand Memorial Hospital.

Of the 27 persons who attended all 27 were successful and have been certified as Basic Level Drug Treatment Service Providers.

The participating institutions were: Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre; Adolescent Health Centre; Teen Challenge Bahamas; Bahamas Association for Social Health (BASH); Great Commission Ministries; Bahamas Correctional Services; Willamae Pratt Center; and the National Drug Council.

The programme was launched in El Salvador in 2007, specifically for the training and certification of drug treatment service providers and was designed by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), under the Secretary for Multidimensional Security (SMS) of the Organization of American States (OAS).