Health Ministries and Montemorelos University Partner to Propel Community Impact Initiatives
Several joint projects will reach more than one million people this year.
January 31, 2024 | Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico | Brenda Ceron and Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News
A recent agreement among leaders of the Inter-American Division’s Health Ministries Department and Montemorelos University will seek to impact more than one million persons this year. The partnership will center around the objective of improving quality of life through prevention and healthy practices, church leaders said.
“The partnership will help scaling-up the reach of various successful IAD health programs based in Montemorelos University,” said Franck Généus, M.D., health ministries director of the IAD. Some of the programs are “I Want to Live Healthy,” I Want to Grow Healthy, “Health at Home, Healthy Kitchen” and more, said Dr. Généus. Thanks to the partnership, it will be possible to translate the existing programs and train people for their implementation or render the materials more accessible to all, he added.
Franck Généus (left) , M.D., health ministries director of the Inter-American Division and Ismael Castillo, president of Montemorelos University sign agreement for joint health impact projects to reach more than one million people across the territory, on Jan. 15, 2024, in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Photo: Lisandra Vicente/Comiunicación Institucional]
One of the ways to ensure that over one million people are reached is by keeping track of the community impact by local churches on a monthly or quarterly basis. Add to that the impact that hospitals, clinics, and lifestyle centers have throughout the territory. “We know a large impact is reached every year but it’s important to have accurate information so that we can continue to increase our reach with the health message,” he said.
“For years, Montemorelos University has had resources that have supported many core health initiatives that have impacted Mexico, and the partnership will help expand the scope of support they bring,” said Généus.
Montemorelos Univeristy, as a leading institution promoting health in Mexico, and its team of technologists, is working on an online platform that will track and compile accomplishments in health initiatives across the territory. The online platform will be available in English, Spanish, and French in early March.
“We know that our churches are engaged in impacting the community through health expos, health brigades, preventive education and the like, but for years not enough accurate information has been properly accounted for,” said Dr. Généus. “We want that to change this year.” The change means that tallying of health community impact from the union, conference, mission and local churches is done regularly.
An additional project currently in development is an app called Health Dream, which will provide preventive health tips, and will eventually merge with the church’s “I Want to Live Healthy” comprehensive health initiative. The app will be managed by Montemorelos University and is intended for anyone seeking to live a healthier lifestyle.
In addition, the partnership will seek to upgrade the certification program for health promoters throughout the IAD backed by Montemorelos University. The institution will provide training, as well as include a standardized test for health promoters, and further training within the upgraded certification program online.
“This is a major leap when it comes to the church promoting health reform,” said Dr. Généus. “We have programs and resources in the IAD and Montemorelos has a team and further resources that will be accessible to all unions for the implementation of more health impact activities in the community.”
The partnership is part of the momentum that has come about by health ministries for union implementation, Dr. Généus said.
Other parts of the agreement included upgrading the primary health care, patient quality care in throughout hospitals, clinics and healthy lifestyle centers throughout the IAD.
The university, through its leadership as a Health Promoting University (UPS) in Montemorelos, will lead under its director Dr. Roel Cea, who will be managing the various projects.
President of Montemorelos University Dr. Ismael Castillo, reaffirmed the commitment of the university to provide resources, training and support in bringing about the projects before he signed the agreement with Dr. Généus.
With the agreement both organizations are committed to work hand in hand to offer health and wellness across the IAD.
To learn more about Inter-American Division’s Health Ministries Department, its initiatives and activities, click HERE