Paraguay's Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare, María Teresa Barán, participated on Tuesday in the groundbreaking ceremony for the future Community Center for chemical dependency and mental health treatment in Encarnación. During the event, the minister described the project as a fundamental step in the fight against addictions and in the recovery of vulnerable youth.
Barán explained that the center is part of the national “Sumar” program, an initiative of President Santiago Peña, and that most cases of chemical dependency can be treated without prolonged hospitalization. “Of 100% of people with dependency problems, 80% do not need prolonged hospitalization. Recovery happens precisely in these community centers,” she said.
The new unit will focus on comprehensive care, support, and monitoring of people with dependency and mental health issues, reinforcing prevention and recovery actions within the community. The minister noted that the “Sumar en tu Barrio” initiative has already helped more than 500 young people recover in different parts of the country, and that the center will benefit not only Encarnación but the entire department of Itapúa.
Barán also praised the coordinated work between the National Government, the Yacyretá Binational Entity, and regional authorities to make the investment possible. “That the entity invests its resources in a community center means betting on the future of our youth,” she stated.
The health minister concluded by saying that the challenge is to continue strengthening the mental health care network with accessible and humane spaces that offer concrete responses to families affected by problematic consumption and other situations related to emotional health.