Montemorelos University leaders recently signed an agreement with government leaders of General Terán, Nuevo León, Mexico, in a joint collaboration to provide health and well-being to needy communities. It is the first time the university has partnered with the district and the third such partnership within the municipalities near campus, university leaders said.
The agreement states that different community impact programs will be established by the government and the university annually from 2021–2024, which will bring about the collaboration of human resources, materials, finances, knowledge, and technical and academic resources, respectively, said Roel Cea, M.D., director of Health Promoting University, based at Montemorelos University.
“With this agreement, Montemorelos University will be able to develop a plan for the entire municipal district as an administrative unit for liaison with the government, responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, planning, development, coordination, and project management with designated projects,” said Dr. Cea. The focus will be on offering integral health as well as mental health support. The projects to be carried out will be focused on sustainable development goals, with very special emphasis on health promotion, said Cea.
Jonathan Sánchez Quintanilla, General Terán Municipal District president, spoke during the signing agreement. He thanked university leaders for their valuable efforts to partner in helping a population of more than 14,000 people within the region. “We want to work hand-in-hand to be part of this team to change the health system, not only for this period, but I hope this teamwork lasts a lifetime,” said Sánchez.
Before the agreement signing on October 5, 2021, Dr. Ismael Castillo, president of Montemorelos University, said, “The importance of health is fundamental for the well-being of populations in the community, and we are very grateful to the [municipal] region because we have been able to develop a mission and work with the government authorities and believe that the time has come to work with such leaders to help improve the health of the people.”
For years, Montemorelos University, with its professionals and students, has been providing assistance to communities in the Allende and Montemorelos municipalities in a similar manner. The university recently renewed agreements to span the next few years—until 2024—with the Allende and Montemorelos municipalities.
The university will work with community projects that will include their impact interventions to eliminate preventable blindness, cavities, and diabetes, as well as initiatives to offer mental health for families, help young people with addictions, and promote a healthy lifestyle through the church’s I Want to Live Healthy initiative.
In addition to supporting many communities, the activities developed from these agreements provide information that can be part of significant scientific contributions, which, in the long run, will benefit more communities besides General Terán, Cea added.
Montemorelos University is an institution in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America.
To learn more about Montemorelos University’s initiatives and undergraduate and graduate programs, visit um.edu.mx.
This article was originally published on the Inter-American Division’s website