Media Advisory
County Supervisors Proclaim Binational Health Week
October 2, 2006
What
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation declaring October 11-17 as California-Mexico Binational Health Week (BHW). As described online (at binationalhealthweek.org), the campaign is an annual, weeklong series of health promotion activities in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Guatemala and El Salvador.
When
Tuesday, October 3, 9:30 a.m.
Where
Board chambers, 651 Pine St., Martinez
Who
The Contra Costa Public and Environmental Health Advisory Board (PEHAB), whose mission is to advocate to improve health particularly in communities with the most limited resources and access, supports BHW and the proclamation. Binational Health Week was created in 2001 and continues as a partnership among numerous organizations and agencies including U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, California Department of Health Services, plus 14 other U.S. states and 14 Mexican states.
Why
More than one of every six residents of Contra Costa is Latino with family origins in Latin America. According to a Contra Costa Health Services report (available by clicking on Health Data at cchealth.org), Hispanics and Latinos are at higher risk than other Contra Costa residents for diabetes, Chlamydia and teen pregnancy. As stated in the proclamation, "Improving the health of mobile immigrant populations requires multiple approaches in service design, delivery, funding priorities and, most of all, a strong Binational commitment between California and Mexico."
How
For more information call Joanne Genêt, Executive Assistant of PEHAB, at 925-313-6763.
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- Joanne Genêt
- 925-313-6763