LOCAL government unit of Cagayan de Oro City earlier today, June 26, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Mental Health Cooperation and Training Center (IMHCTC) of Taiwan.
The MOU, which was signed during a formal ceremony at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel, aims to strengthen collaboration in the fields of education, research, publication sharing, and mental health training.
During his speech, Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy expressed his honor and excitement to partner and collaborate with the IMHCTC in the field of Mental Health.
He emphasized that the proposed partnership between the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and the IMHCTC will benefit both institutions. The MOU is set to be in effect for two years.
One of the key benefits outlined in the MOU is the sharing of expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications in patient healthcare and revolutionary data management.
Mayor Uy and Shu-Hui Wang, Chief of the Planning Office at Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital in IMHCTC, Taiwan, signed the agreement.
The signing was witnessed by City Councilor Dra. Malou Gaane, Chairperson of the Committee on Health, and Dr. Min-Wei Huang, Deputy Superintendent of Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital in IMHCTC, Taiwan.
Mayor Uy commended the initiative for knowledge and capacity improvement, especially considering the challenges to mental health brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He highlighted the importance of addressing mental health conditions in correlation with the resilience of populations to various calamities and disasters.
Mayor Uy also emphasized the social issues related to mental health, including the increasing number of cases of suicide attempts, mass shootings, anti-social behaviors, domestic violence, domestic abuse, employment turnover, school dropouts, and behavioral manifestations of non-adjustment, stress, and depression.
He also emphasized the economic and social implications of unaddressed mental health challenges.
The signing ceremony was attended by City Psychologist Jaymee Leonen-Pagaspas, department managers, and partners from private institutions, demonstrating their strong support for the collaboration.
IMHCTC will assist the LGU-CDO in implementing AI technologies such as online data banking and efficient data analysis for better patient care.
The center, under the authority of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Government of Taiwan, aims to foster international collaboration in psychiatry and mental health.
It actively collaborates with psychiatric academic units in Taiwan and seeks to establish a psychiatric research alliance with Southeast Asian countries, South Asia, and Oceania countries, to promote regional mental health.
As part of its commitment to capacity-building, IMHCTC also offers scholarships in the field of mental health.
Ten individuals from LGU-CDO, including representatives from the City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, JR Borja General Hospital, and Liceo de Cagayan University, have completed these scholarships, further enhancing their expertise in mental health.
Overall, this partnership between Cagayan de Oro City and IMHCTC holds great promise for advancing mental health initiatives, leveraging AI technologies, and fostering international collaboration in the field of psychiatry.
