UMECIT hosted the official presentation of the National Drug Research Agenda

The Metropolitan University of Education, Science and Technology (UMECIT) received a visit from PhD Graciela Ahumada, Task Force responsible for coordinating the Strengthening of National Drug Observatories program under the COPOLAD III program, funded by the European Union and led by FIIAPP.

The event, held on September 8, was intended to officially present the National Drug Research Agenda, led by the Scientific Committee of the Panamanian Observatory on Drugs (OPADRO).

This committee is made up of prominent academics from the country: Mgtr. Fernando Murray (University of Panama), Mgtr. Raúl López (Columbus University), Mgtr. Linette Govea (Universidad Santander), Mgtr. Amelia Kentish (Universidad Tecnológica), and Dr. Gressy Zuñiga (UMECIT), all members of the RENADROP academic chapter. During the session, the proposed lines of research to strengthen the generation of new knowledge about drugs were presented, in response to the needs of the Panamanian context.

Dr. Nadja Porcell Iglesias, Coordinator of the Panama Drug Observatory, moderated the event. Representing UMECIT, Dr. Hermes Mauricio Sierra, Vice-Rector, gave the welcoming remarks on behalf of UMECIT, representing the Rector, Dr. José A. Nieto. Also participating were Dr. Magdy De Las Salas, Director of Research at UMECIT, researchers from various universities, professors, and representatives of institutions committed to the prevention, treatment, and control of drug use.

The agenda was presented by Thais Tejada, and the event concluded with a presentation by Jissel Maitin, who thanked the participants for their collaborative work and highlighted the work done by the Drug Observatory in organizing this agenda, which is aligned with the current efforts of the universities that make up the academic chapter of RENADROP–CONAPRED.