United States – México Border Health Commission

1. United States – México Border Health Commission

2. If the U.S. - México Border were a separate state, it would rank... • First in number of children living in poverty • Second in incidence of tuberculosis • Third in deaths from hepatitis • Last in number of health professionals/100,000 population • Last in per capita income U.S. México Border Counties Coalition March 2006 www.bordercounties.org

3. Purpose of the U.S.-México Border Health Commission (BHC) • Identify and evaluate current and future health problems affecting the population in the United States-México border area • Encourage and facilitate actions to address these problems

4. La Paz Agreement Definition of Border – 100 km – 60 miles

5. Goals of the BHC • Institutionalize a domestic focus on border health that can transcend political changes • Create an effective venue for binational discussion to address key public health issues at the border

6. Roles of the BHC • Promote social and community participation • Act as a catalyst for needed change • Increase resources for the border • Encourage self-responsibility for health • Institutionalize domestic focus

7. BHC Composition and Structure • Two nations • Ten border states (six Mexican States, four U.S. States) • United States and México Sections—12 Members each • Led by two Commissioners

8. BHC Accomplishments

9. Commission Outreach Offices (OROs) Accomplishments of the individual OROs are provided in the Thirteenth Annual Meeting Briefing Binder.

10. Border Binational Health Week (BBHW) 2005 • Purpose- weeklong series of events to bring awareness to health needs along the border • Update- 2005 BBHW focused on “Families in Action for Health,” and helped to provide health awareness to people along the border Contact: Ernesto Ramirez, Mexico Section and Christopher Hickey, Ph.D., OGHA

11. Border Governors Conference • Annual conferences include governors from all ten border states, ongoing work tables • Update- 24th annual conference (August 2006, Austin) will focus on public health emergency preparedness and pandemic influenza preparedness

12. Border Health Risk Factor Surveillance • Purpose- a surveillance system to monitor risk factors for chronic disease • Update- in January, the binational technical team met and recommended improvements to survey data collection methodology Contact: Carmen Sanchez-Vargas, HHS/CDC Liaison to the BHC

13. Binational Border Health Information Platform • Purpose- Web-based border health data system for researchers and policymakers • Update- Ongoing binational collaboration to complete project later this year in October, 2006. Contact: Dr. Rafael Lozano Ascencio, Mexican Secretariat of Health, and Dr. Sam Notzon, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC/HHS

14. Border Infectious Disease Surveillance (BIDS) • Purpose- BIDS program funds binational disease surveillance infrastructure and has developed channels of communication that serve as a framework for future efforts in disease surveillance, preparedness and response. • Update- convened 5th Annual Meeting, developed English/Spanish laboratory and epidemiology manuals, and provided diagnostic kits and supplies Contact: Hector Martinez, Mexican Section

15. Early Warning Infectious Disease Surveillance (EWIDS) • Purpose- the EWIDS Project will improve cross-border activities in early detection, identification, and reporting of infectious diseases associated with potential bio-terror agents or other major threats to public health. • Update- on March 9, 2006, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released $5 million to U.S.-México Science Foundation (FUMEC), who will administer funds to six Mexican border states and the SSA Contact: Hector Martinez, Mexican Section, and Christopher Hickey, OGHA

16. Binational Public Health Research Forum • Purpose- to convene a meeting between researchers and policymakers along the border to identify health research priorities. • Status- Scheduled for October 2006 Contact: Dra. Dora Elia Cortés Hernández and Hector Martinez

17. Lead (Pb) Issues Along the Border • Purpose- a meeting was convened to discuss the issue of lead (Pb) in candy and other non-paint sources • Update- the meeting took place on Jan. 26-27, 2006. U.S. border state officials, U.S. federal officials, and BHC México Section Executive Secretary participated. Contact: Dan Reyna, U.S. Section

18. Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (TB) Efforts • Purpose- To ensure effective transportation of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) drugs across the U.S.-México border Update- The Commission coordinated a call with the Texas Department of State Health Services, PAHO, Mexican National TB Program that helped stakeholders to agree on strategies for consistent cross-border transport of TB medications Contact: R.J. Dutton, Ph.D. Texas Department of State Health Services

19. Ventanillas de Salud • Purpose- Stations within the Mexican Consulates to help direct the population at risk to appropriate health services • Status- Two Ventanillas de Salud were opened in 2006. They are Tucson, Arizona and McAllen, Texas. Another one is expected to open later this year in El Paso, Texas Contact: Paola Pliego, Mexican Section

20. National Infant Immunization Week/Vaccination Week in the Americas • Purpose- an annual observance to promote immunization • Status- There will be borderwide events, particularly in the State of Arizona, during the week of April 22-29 to promote the importance of immunization. Contact: Carmen Sanchez-Vargas, HHS/CDC Liaison to the BHC