Inaugural Event and IX Binational Policy Forum on Migration and Health
The IX Annual Binational Policy Forum on Migration and Health will take place on October 4-5, 2009 in New Mexico. This two-day event is co-sponsored by the Secretariat of Health and the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, Honduras, Colombia, and Ecuador, the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services, the Government of New Mexico, the US-Mexico Border Health Commission, COFEM, the California Endowment, and the Health Initiative of the Americas, among other institutions.
The policy forum is the launching event of Binational Health Week, an annual weeklong series of health promotion and health education activities that include workshops, insurance referrals, and medical screenings. This event has become one of the largest mobilization efforts of government agencies, community-based organizations and volunteers in North America to improve the health and well being of underserved Latinos living in the United States.
The goal of this year's forum is to convene key stakeholders from the United States, Mexico, Canada, South and Central American countries to discuss (im)migrant health challenges and to explore unique opportunities to work collaboratively to improve the health and well-being of this population.
Representatives from federal, state, and community organizations from participating countries are expected to partake, including elected officials, university administration (faculty, administrators, alumni, and students), union leaders, researchers, federal and state agency directors, media organizations, and other key public and private stakeholders. Participants will convene to discuss immigrants' health challenges and explore collaborative strategies to enhance the health and conditions of this population. Topics to be addressed include global health and migration, chronic and emergent diseases of mobile populations, occupational health and safety, access to health services, workforce development, and the health of vulnerable people, including those with disabilities and agricultural workers.
Background
The IX Binational Policy Forum on Migration and Health was held in Zacatecas, Mexico on October 5-6, 2008. More than 700 representatives from federal, state, and community organizations attended the event to exchange ideas on the challenges facing transnational populations and to discuss novel collaborative approaches to improve the health conditions of Latino immigrants residing in the U.S. Forum topics included global health and migration, chronic and emergent diseases of mobile populations, occupational health and safety, access to health services, workforce development, and the health of vulnerable people, including those with disabilities and agricultural workers.
The list of participants included representatives from approximately 139 agencies including health clinics and hospitals, legal assistance organizations, unions, non-governmental entities, and faith-based groups. The international delegation's significant presence was composed of 112 emissaries of whom five were under-secretariats from the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs of the represented countries. The academia sector was represented by 24 universities from three countries.
Binational Health Week
This year, the Ninth BHW will take place October 3-15, 2009 in 40 states in the U.S. and 3 provinces in Canada, with the participation of the consular networks of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Additionally, during BHW five national campaigns will be implemented to promote awareness among the underserved Latino community on H1N1 Influenza, Prevention of Addictions, Nutrition, Prevention of Strokes, and Living Green.
More information about BHW events