Mexico City, November 17, 2022.- The Faculty of Health Sciences of the Universidad Panamericana celebrated, in the auditorium of our institution, the awarding of the National Health Award. National Health AwardThis event encourages the recognition of activities carried out by people and organizations oriented to the benefit of children and society in health and quality of life, such as research, academia, professional, social and technological development, new processes, services and products.
The event was attended by Dr. Santiago García Álvarez, rector of Panamericana and Mr. Óscar David Hernández Carranza, president of the National Health Award.
The importance of health
In the framework of the award ceremony, Dr. José Narro Robles, President of the Dr. José Narro Roblesa university professor for almost 40 years, former rector of the UNAM and former Secretary of Health, gave a keynote lecture.
Narro recognized Mexico as a country of greatness "with problems that must be recognized, but a great country. He also stressed that it is necessary to do many things from society to eradicate these problems.
After identifying some of these disadvantages, such as poverty or illiteracy, Narro addressed the issue of health: "without it you do not enjoy, you have almost nothing important and we must recognize that health is in many things, not only in medical care, but also in the way we live, in our education, in our work, in our habits, health depends a lot on us".
He spoke of four main health problems in Mexico:
- "Mexico urgently requires health reform.
- Health requires more budget, since Mexico is below what is invested in Latin America.
- Rethinking health priorities in Mexico.
- Mental health is an unfinished business and the problems are catching up with us".
To conclude his presentation, he spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic and pointed out that it taught us the indispensable lesson: "we must have a strengthened health system, in which we invest and in which we are committed to our own health and that of others".
The award winners
Finally, the awards were presented in four categories: public sector, business, non-governmental organization and individual.
In the public sector category, the winner was Radio Universidad de Guadalajara, which has eight radio stations, including one with more than 48 years of transmitting knowledge, research and culture in Jalisco. The award was received by Dr. Gabriel Torres, General Director of the University Radio System.
In the corporate category, the winner was Grupo Consulmed, a company dedicated to monitoring and implementing, for the past 13 years, health programs that manage the health of employees in companies and for supporting the health of more than a thousand families in the Mexican Republic. The award was received by Miguel Ángel Prida, its founding president.
In the NGO category, it was the Mexican Alzheimer's Center, a pioneer in offering online non-pharmacological therapies to people with dementia and their families and caregivers, which has also helped to raise awareness that memory loss is not normal in old age and that non-drug therapy slows the progression of dementia. The award was received by its president, Regina Altena.
In the individual category, the winner was Dr. Leticia Bornstein, who has 18 years of experience as a pathologist, has worked in diagnostic tests and chemical assays, has consolidated a certified pathology and molecular biology laboratory and has collaborated with various public and private institutions throughout the country.
De igual manera, se les otorgó un reconocimiento a equipo y docentes de la UP; los miembros de la Panamericana acreedores al reconocimiento fueron: la Mtra. Ana Aoki, el Dr. Sebastián Arteaga, Dra. María Casas, Dr. Basilio Fernández, Dr. Felix Gil, Mr. Jesus Gonzalez, Ms. Emilia Guerrero, Ms. Viviana Gutierrez, Dr. Irina Juarez, Dr. Carlos Ortiz, Dr. Alfredo Ponce de Leon, Ms. Elizabeth Rodriguez, Dr. David Servin, Dr. Carlos Vidal, Dr. Maria Villa and Dr. Antonio Villa.
True to their goals
Oscar David Hernandez, recognized the importance of people like those who were recognized in the world of health, in which they face adverse situations but despite this they remain faithful to their goals. " We want to thank you for having given that little bit more that the human being deserves so much," he said to the awardees.
To conclude the event, Dr. Garcia Alvarez reflected on mental health: "we have been affecting the human person by going against him (...) the fact that there are so many serious people studying and giving solutions to these problems, seems to me very relevant because we have to give an answer and we have to take this problem forward".
The National Health Award has been awarded for seven years and has seen the best humanitarian work, so its jury is professional, impartial and objective.
