With its commitment to raise a generation of healthy and drug-free people, the Foundation for Health and Education and Drug Awareness (FHEDA) counts it a pleasure and sacred task to help save people from future ruin. Born on May 6, 1986 FHEDA was officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C) – Registration No. DS-00622.
A study conducted by the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) of the Philippines showed that 93% of the patients at various drug rehabilitation centers were regular smokers and 91% drank alcohol before they took other drugs. Cigarette smoking opens the door to drug dependency. It’s a gateway drug. “If a parent can keep his child from smoking cigarette, that child’s chances of becoming drug abuser are extremely low. Drug dependency including alcohol dependence is associated with cigarette dependence, and cigarette dependence predates any of the other drugs. ” says Dr. Forest Tenant, M.D Executive director of Community Health Project Inc. of West Covina, California, USA. A youngster starts smoking cigarette then later would graduate to smoking marijuana. This explains why FHEDA integrates anti-smoking in her drug awareness campaign.
Preventive message campaign on anti-smoking, alcoholism, AIDS, drug abse and systematic training for effective parenting loaded FHEDA activities that enabled her to serve about 150,000 people in Davao City and some cities and towns of Regions X, XI,XII, and the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao. All through these years of operation, FHEDA has conducted about 2,500 lectures, discussions, seminars, video showing, and symposium to different groups, establishments, schools, offices, civic/religious organization, jails/prison, parent groups, military and Philippine National Police personnel. The Dangerous Drug Board (DDB), Manila has tapped FHEDA for the conduct of Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) phase 1 and 2 in Davao City.
FHEDA has produced brochures/leaflets entitled:
- 5 secrets to Stop Smoking
- Stay Young Without Drugs
- How to Care for Person with AIDS
- The Benefits of AIDS
- Alcohol, America’s No 1 Drug Problem.
- Born Champion
The Foundation for Health Education and Drug Awareness, Inc is accredited by Davao City government on February 11, 1994 in a Resolution No. 6042, City Ordinance No. 1679 series of 1994.
The saying “No man is an island” also applies to organizations. To be effective in implementing programs and projects, calls for alliances or linkages with other organizations, institutions and government agencies. As past accomplishments, FHEDA had established alliances with:
- Department of Health
- Dangerous Drugs Board
- Philippine Council of Non-Government Organizations Against Drug and Substance Abuse (PHILCADSA)
- Philippine Charity Sweepstakes
- Philippine Mental health Association
- Alliance Against AIDS in Mindanao (ALAGAD)
- Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Council, Davao City.
- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
- Australian Embassy in the Philippines
AIMING AT A LONG-TERM CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR
The problem lies in man’s risky behavior. Man’s own effort to change himself is short-term. Man is prone to do evil, but he has the desire to do good. Imagine how many times he made New Year Resolutions only to find himself back to his own lifestyle after few weeks. No wonder several drug addicts who after-care from a rehabilitation center experienced recurrences and relapses.
Personal testimonies have been told how former drug addicts were completely changed. They attributed this long-term change to the Power of God that intervened in their lives. No more recurrence and relapse! Thus spiritual therapy now forms part of recovery treatment at several rehabilitation centers for drug dependents.
Mary Magdalene, that prostitute or commercial sex worker of olden times was completely changed when Jesus told her: “Go and sin no more.” She was never the same again. Made whole! No more illicit sex with multiple partners, No more risky practices.
Thus for a long-term change of behavior, FHEDA supports the effort in instilling in the minds of people the Philosophy of life based in the Bible and God.
Current Officers of Foundation for Health Education and Drug Awareness, Inc. (FHEDA):
- Emmanuel P. Mullaneda – President
- Allan Basarte – Vice President
- Eliza Plandes – Treasurer
- Perla Estrada – Assistant Treasurer
- Leydace Oropesa – Secretary
- Meriam Capilitan – Assistant Secretary
- Engr. Pablo Oropesa – Auditor
Current Board of Trustees:
- Dr. Danny Nanez -Director/Chairman
- Allan Basarte – Director
- Perla Estrada – Director
- Eliza Plandes – Director
- Pacifico Erasmas Jr. – Director