A PARTNERSHIP between the Cagayan de Oro City Council and the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) is in the offing to strengthen the city's mental health program.

The memorandum of understanding (MOA), endorsed by the city council committee on health and sanitation, is still at the committee on laws and rules.

Under the MOA, the mental health association shall conduct training and seminars on mental health to the city barangay health workers.

The health workers will be trained to identify early signs and symptoms of mental disorders and how to deal with the problem.

City Mayor Oscar Moreno earlier disclosed that one of his administration's target is to put up a mental hospital in the city.

At present, the city has been transporting its mentally-challenged persons to Davao City for treatment because of the lack of facility here.

The City Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southern Philippines Medical Center of Davao City in June two years ago for this set-up.

The MOU allows the city to transport mentally-challenged persons here to Davao City for treatment.