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Local Issues in Public Health and Public Safety at the Border

Learn about the primary factors impacting public health and safety at the border, including disasters, agricultural concerns, infectious diseases, illegal sales, and water supply issues. Explore strategies for hospital surge capacity, disaster recovery, combating illegal practices, agricultural safety, and water supply management.

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Local Issues in Public Health and Public Safety at the Border

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  1. Local Issues in Public Health and Public Safety at the Border Presented by Eduardo Olivarez Chief Administrative Officer Hidalgo County Health & Human Services

  2. The Primary Factors in Public Health Safety • Natural or Man made Disasters and Recovery • Agricultural / Animal Safety and Importation Concerns • Hospital Surge Capacity & Lack of Specialty Care Physicians • Infectious / Communicable diseases i.e. TB, Zika, STDs, food borne-water borne illness • Illegal Retail of Food, Medical, & Cosmetics Products • Potential Ground Water Issues and Future Fresh Water Supply • Large and Exotic animals & Primates

  3. “The Ring” represents 150 mile radius centered from McAllen in all directions. “The Ring “ equals 12 Million to 14 Million residents within its area. “The Ring of Growth in Texas” 17 International Ports of Entry & 4 Sea Ports • 4 Webb Co. • 1 Zapata Co. • 2 Starr Co. • 6 Hidalgo Co. • 4 Cameron Co. Hidalgo Co. is the 3rd most populated County along the U.S. Mexico Border except for San Diego and Tucson A true International Border in regards to ethnicity via immigration, and Binational geographically.

  4. Hospital Surge Capacity and Lack of Medical Professionals • Coordinate all resources with hospitals and private sector medical professionals • Pre-plan and implement via our partners DSHS (RMOC), DADS, RLO/DDC, LHD, MMRS, TRAC, 1st Responders, Hospitals, and COG / MACC. • Developing Alternate Care Sheltering with BCFS via DSHS and other local partners • Pharmaceutical Cache for 1st Responders and Hospital personnel • The development of a Continuity of Operations Plan

  5. Natural or ManmadeDisasters and Recovery • Emergency Management Director (County Judge) • Emergency Management Coordinator (Chief Ricardo Saldana) • Multi-Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation • Incident Command Structure protocols • Evacuation, Shelter, Point of Dispensing Implementation • Medical Shelters and Support • Recovery and Quality of Life Requirements • Sanitation Assessments • DPS Disaster District Committee & Regional Medical Operations Center

  6. Illegal Sales of Food and Medical Products / Procedures • Expired and Questionable food items being sold at flea markets and illegal vendors. • Medical Products and Pharmaceuticals being sold without proper authorization. • Counterfeit Food Labels and re-selling. • Opioid concerns and Rx drug abuse • Illegal medical & dental practices • Synthetic Drug / Chemical Abuse

  7. Agricultural / Animal Safety and Importation Concerns • Support FDA, USDA, and Customs in investigating and assessing agricultural / food issues. • Work along side with DSHS on surveillance issues related to food or produce . • Educate on the importance of our Agricultural Industry • Provide food server and food manager education along with sanitation • Illegal vendors of milk based products and unlicensed producers • Immunization / Vaccination for staff who prepare food products. • Exotic Animals and Large Dangerous Animals issues.

  8. Potential Ground Water Issues and Future Fresh Water Supply • With exponential growth and the lack of public works infrastructure ground water quality will suffer. • Limited access to fresh water and growth in this region will create water supply problems for municipalities

  9. Questions Eduardo Olivarez Chief Administrative Officer Hidalgo County Health & Human Services 956-383-8858

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