United States – Mexico Border Health Commission. U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission If the U.S. - Mexico Border were a separate state, it would rank...

United States – MexicoUnited States – MexicoBorder Health CommissionBorder Health Commission

U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission

If the U.S. - Mexico Border were a If the U.S. - Mexico Border were a separate state, it would rank...separate state, it would rank...

First in number of children living in poverty;

Second in Tuberculosis incidences;

Third in deaths from Hepatitis;

Last in number of health professionals/100,000

population;

Last in per capita income. U.S. Mexico Border Counties Coalition

March 2006

www.bordercounties.org


La Paz AgreementLa Paz Agreement

Definition of Border – 100 km – 60 miles



Issues Associated with Access to Health Care Issues Associated with Access to Health Care Along the U.S. - Mexico Border RegionAlong the U.S. - Mexico Border Region

Lack of knowledge on how to access services; Language and cultural barriers; Cost of care; Need for training and distribution of health care providers; Denial of access to services for undocumented (illegal status)

individuals; Availability of services; Transportation (distance/means of); and Limited public health infrastructure.

(UA, RHO Border Vision Fronteriza Initiative, Delphi Study, 1997)


Photo: National Geography 1997

Close to 13 million inhabitants Close to 13 million inhabitants Dangerous territory, heavily fortified and certainly the busiest borderDangerous territory, heavily fortified and certainly the busiest border

400 million legal border north-bound crossings annually (1998)400 million legal border north-bound crossings annually (1998)Terrorism and significant public health threats Terrorism and significant public health threats


Population Growth TrendsPopulation Growth Trends

In the next 8 years the Mexican Border population will double

In the next 22 years the U.S. Hispanic Population of the Border will double

In the next 43 years the U.S. population all races in the Border Counties will double


Commission's HistoryCommission's History

1988-1994: Intense border, States, and American Medical Association advocacy and legislative efforts;

1994-Commission has its origins in Public Law 103-400. Authorized the President to enter into an agreement with Mexico;

July 2000-Signing of the International Agreement creates the Commission; and

November 2000-Commission held its 1st Binational Meeting.


“To provide international leadership to optimize health and quality of life along the

United States - Mexico border.”

MissionMission


PurposePurpose To identify and evaluate current and future health problems

affecting the population in the United States-Mexico border area.

To encourage and facilitate actions to address these problems.

GoalsGoals To institutionalize a domestic focus on border health which would

transcend political changes

To create an effective venue for binational discussion to address public health issues and problems


RolesRoles Promote social and community participation;

Act as a catalyst for needed change;

Act as a policy advocate;

Increase resources for the border;

Encourage self-responsibility for health; and

Institutionalize domestic focus. Facilitate Border Early Warning Infectious Disease Surveillance

Project


Composition and StructureComposition and Structure Two nations Ten border states 44 counties and 80 municipalities 14 pairs of sister cities Public International Organization United States and Mexico Sections 26 Commission Members and two sections U.S. Inter Agency Border Action Team


Basic Elements of Basic Elements of Border CooperationBorder Cooperation

Identification of a common problem and opportunities

Recognition that each country is independent

Trust and respect

Consensus in decision making

Equitable allocation of resources


Outreach Office RolesOutreach Office Roles

Assure that the Commission mission and outreach plans are carried out at the local and bilateral level;

Promote Healthy Border 2010 Program;

Complement the local State Border Health Office’s mission by coordinating work plan activities and bilateral efforts with Commission and local organizations.


Commission Outreach Offices (OROs)Commission Outreach Offices (OROs)


Healthy Border ProgramHealthy Border Program Based on U.S. Healthy People 2010

Grounded in science; build through consensus; and designed to

measure progress

Focus attention on key health issues

Improve allocation of health resources

Coordinate public and private action

Inspire ownership of objectives through: coordinated program activities community projects living document


Healthy Border Focus ThemesHealthy Border Focus Themes Access to Care

Cancer

Diabetes

Environmental Health

HIV/AIDS

Immunization

Infectious Diseases

Tuberculosis

Injury Prevention

Maternal, Infant and Child Health

Mental Health

Oral Health

Respiratory Diseases


Themes in DevelopmentThemes in Development

Terrorism Preparedness

Nutrition

Obesity

Alcohol, Tobacco, and other drugs


United States-Mexico Binational TB United States-Mexico Binational TB

Referral and Case Management ProjectReferral and Case Management Project Binational TB Card - a portable

health document Insures continuity of care and

completion of treatment Coordinates the referral of patients

between health systems of both countries

More than 1000 cards have been distributed

Medical savings between $50,000-$250,000 for every multi-drug resistant case prevented

For information , please visit www.borderhealth.org


Core Recommendations Core Recommendations to Governmentsto Governments

1. Increase and Improve Meaningful Access to Quality Preventive Care

2. Improve Health Education, Disease Prevention and Control

3. Improve Health Workforce Development, Training, Placement and Retention

4. Improve Public Health Infrastructure


Increase and Improve Meaningful Access Increase and Improve Meaningful Access to Quality Preventive Careto Quality Preventive Care

Continue to support the advancement of skills in the public health sector and promote incentives to encourage private sector providers to meet the emerging health needs of people along the border by providing insurance that pays for care in both countries;

Promote dissemination / replication of existing high quality public / private health programs throughout the border region through the expansion of the Commission’s Border Models of Excellence;

Support the use of binational health cards such as the binational TB and Immunization cards to facilitate binational transfer of information critical to prevention and spread of disease and the treatment of health conditions.


Increase and Improve Meaningful Access Increase and Improve Meaningful Access to Quality Preventive Careto Quality Preventive Care

United States Specific Strengthen the health programs that assist migrants and immigrants that live either

on a temporary basis or permanently in the U.S.; and Improve methods that increase access and enrollment of eligible U.S. border

residents in existing health care service plans / systems in both Spanish and English, and to continue assisting these enrollees to receive necessary medical attention.

Mexico Specific Develop strategies to increase the availability of the Seguro Popular (Popular

Insurance) health insurance program in the border region; and Develop programs to address the needs of repatriated Mexican citizens who are in

need of health education / medical care.


Improve Health Education, Disease Improve Health Education, Disease Prevention and ControlPrevention and Control

Support the Commission in implementing border wide and binational efforts through its Healthy Border 2010 Program;

Increase federal programs and resources for schools to teach health, nutrition and fitness, and encourage healthy lifestyles;

Support the Commission and the Ten Against TB Strategic Plan 2005 - 2010 to:

Develop a TB outreach initiative to work through existing community-based outreach programs and promotores in establishing methods to identify cases in their communities

Identify and screen at least 90 % of TB contacts to active pulmonary TB cases

Expand the Binational Directly Observed Therapy Outreach Initiative


Improve Health Education, Disease Improve Health Education, Disease Prevention and ControlPrevention and Control

Encourage private industry through trade and border conferences and associations to provide financial support for projects to promote health and prevention of diseases;

Provide adequate funding for ongoing border specific surveillance studies to assess / enhance achievement of Healthy Border 2010 objectives; and

Advance HIV / AIDS care along the border by supporting projects such as the Care Act Special Projects of National Significance, that lead to a more productive care environment for people living with HIV / AIDS.


Develop an exchange program to train border and binational health professionals; and

Promote health professions among the youth who reside in the border region and expand the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Careers Opportunity Program.

Improve Health Workforce Development, Improve Health Workforce Development, Training, Placement and RetentionTraining, Placement and Retention


Improve Public Health InfrastructureImprove Public Health Infrastructure Support and promote border state / local coordination for the

implementation of a binational vertical public health preparedness strategy and cross-border sharing of public resources;

Improve the integration of the Border Infectious Disease Surveillance (BIDS) and the Early Warning Infectious Disease Surveillance (EWIDS) Projects to maximize resources in the border;

Encourage continuing education binationally for the specific public health preparedness;

Expedite binational communication and information exchange for public health and emergency response purposes;

Pursue International Organization status; and Review USMBHC treaties and agreements.


Early Warning Infectious Disease Early Warning Infectious Disease Surveillance (EWIDS) ProjectSurveillance (EWIDS) Project

Enhance the infectious disease surveillance capabilities along the United States-Mexico Border by creating public health preparedness systems in the six Mexican Border States that are interoperable with one another and with those of the four United States Border States.

A collaboration between the Commission, Mexico Secretariat of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and CDC.


Critical Capacities for Public Health Critical Capacities for Public Health Emergency PreparednessEmergency Preparedness

I. Surveillance and Epidemiologic Capacity

II. Laboratory Capacity – Biologic Agents

III. Surveillance and Epidemiology – Related communication and information technology

IV. Surveillance and Epidemiology – Related education and training


11stst Border Binational Border BinationalHealth WeekHealth Week

October 11 - 17, 2004

To download a copy of the report To download a copy of the report please visit: please visit:

www.borderhealth.orgwww.borderhealth.org

Shared easy to understand health information, prevention and best practices;

Strengthen community based organizational networks and structures and foster partnership opportunities in support of HB 2010 program;

Exercised binational and Departmental collaboration and cooperation in support of border health improvement; (evidence of collaborative efforts)

Leveraged financial, technical, organizational support and partnerships; and

Established benchmark indicators to document outcomes and progress.

OutcomesOutcomes

United States – Mexico Border Health Commission. U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission If the U.S. - Mexico Border were a separate state, it would rank...

Documents

intense border

united states mexico

mexican border population

public health issues

future health problems

hispanic population

public law

international agreement