Inauguration of the Municipal Center for Mental Health Care, Addiction (Dual Pathology) and Family Guidance

Yesterday, May 23, the official opening of the Municipal Center for Mental Health Care, Addiction (Dual Pathology) and Family Guidance, in the district of La Chorrera. This center is the result of inter-institutional research “Severe Dual Disorders Program for Homeless People in the La Chorrera District”, which started in July 2024 and was developed by students from the UMECIT Criminal Law Seedbed, La Chorrera Campus, under the guidance of its lead teacher, Mgtr. Kerubis Harris, coordinator of the UMECIT Legal Clinic and lawyer for the Ministry of Health – Nicolás A. Solano Regional Hospital. The investigation also included the co-investigation of the Dr. Sara Vélez, HRNAS psychiatrist.

The main objective of the program is Provide comprehensive care to people with mental disorders associated with substance use, a condition known as dual pathology, which seriously affects vulnerable populations.

It is important to highlight that this research had the direct participation of various public institutions, including: the Municipality of La Chorrera and the Nicolás A. Solano Regional Hospital. For the development of the project, the students also visited other key entities such as the National Police, MIDES, SENADIS, CSS, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), he Public ministry, among others.

Representatives of the participating institutions attended the inauguration, as well as companies that donated supplies for the center's creation. The participation of the Honorable Mayor Eloy Chong; he Mr. Alfredo Graham, director of the Department of Citizen Security; Dr. Gonzalo González, head of Psychiatry at HRNAS; Ricardo Goti, head of Psychiatry at MINSA; Michell Rangel, deputy director of the Health Region of Western Panama and teacher at our educational institution; Dr. David Rodríguez, director of HRNAS; and the Dr. Cristina Gómez, deputy director of HRNAS.

During the ceremony, the Mr. Alfredo Graham He thanked UMECIT for its valuable contributions through academic research and announced the incorporation of students from the bachelor's degrees in General psychology and Social work as volunteers at the center, thus strengthening the quality of care provided.

On behalf of UMECIT, the doctoral student Miriam Aparicio, coordinator of the General Psychology program at the La Chorrera campus, will lead the project in collaboration with the faculty, promoting the development of academic internships through an innovative and inclusive field experience. This initiative will allow students to gain experience in addressing individuals with dual diagnoses associated with substance use.

Likewise, the Dr. Gressy Zúñiga, Director of Accreditation at UMECIT and specialist in drug addiction, joins the work team as a link between the CONAPRED Drug Observatory, UMECIT and the Mayor's Office of La Chorrera, with the aim of joining forces and contributing to the success of this important medical-social project.

The ribbon cutting was led by the mayor Eloy Chong, accompanied by authorities from MINSA, the Nicolás A. Solano Hospital and UMECIT, officially starting the center's work.

This project, already in operation, is in the process of being replicated in Panama City, in response to the acceptance and support it received in Western Panama, with a view to expanding to other regions of the country.

In this way, we strengthen our institutional commitment to research culture, creating spaces for improvement and benefit for our society.