U.S. - Mexico Border Binational Health Week Kicks Off

Nogales, Arizona, October 13, 2004 (PAHO)—Diabetes, disaster preparedness, injury prevention, immunization and health promotion are priority areas for joint work along the U.S.-Mexico border, "which is a model for bilateral collaboration that other countries can follow," according to Pan American Health Organization Deputy Director Dr. Joxel García.

Speaking at the opening of U.S. - Mexico Border Binational Health Week, in which top U.S. and Mexico's health officials are participating, García said PAHO is committed to providing technical collaboration along the border in priority areas set by the two governments through the Healthy Border 2010 initiative, which aims to improve health along the 2000-mile long border region. The area includes 48 U.S. counties in four states, and 80 municipalities in six Mexican states. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson told border health officials, "We had the dream of celebrating this health week several years ago, and finally we are here with (Mexican health) Secretary Julio Frenk at this great event."

Designed by the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, the initiative promotes community-based solutions for health promotion, disease prevention, and increased access to health services, identifying significant preventable threats to health along the U.S.-Mexico border, and establishes goals to reduce those threats. The health week was organized by the Commission, the Secretariat of Health of Mexico, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Pan American Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many other organizations.

Mexico's Secretary of Health, Dr. Julio Frenk Mora, recognized and thanked the work of PAHO and made special mention of García's efforts to strengthen health work along the border. He said migration represents important challenges for health, but is also part of the origin of a single race, the human race.

Nearly 200 health promotion activities are being carried out in 14 sister cities along the border in this Bi-national Health Week. Events are scheduled in El Paso, Texas tomorrow, Oct. 14, with U.S. Deputy Surgeon general Kenneth Moritsugu and Head Start National Director Windy Hill, at the Pete Duarte Center and Clinic. A policy forum is slated at 1 pm in the Hilton Airport Hotel, with Drs. Rosemarie Johnson and Alfonso Valenzuela of the Border Health Commission, Dr. García of PAHO, and Dr. José Manuel de la Rosa, dean of the Texas Tech University Health Science Center.

PAHO, established in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and the quality of life of people of the Americas. It serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. PAHO Member States today include all 35 countries in the Americas. France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are Participating States. Portugal and Spain are Observer States, and Puerto Rico is an Associate Member.