U.S. Mexico Border
Health
Association
www.usmbha,org
Dear Colleagues:
On behalf of the Association's Executive Committee and staff, we will like to wish you a very fruitful and outstanding professional and personal 2008!
We also like to take this opportunity to share with you the great news that as of January 7 th , Dr. Fernando Gonzalez has become the new USMBHA Executive Director.
The Association gives Dr. Gonzalez a great welcoming as we also ask you to continue your collaboration with the Executive Director of the USMBHA to advance the goals and objectives, of this your Association, throughout the United States-Mexico Border region.
For your information, you will find Dr. Gonzalez' bio in our web page, under the staff section ( www.usmbha.org ), so you can become familiar with his achievements, experience, and professionalism.
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News and Public Information Press Release
American Diabetes Association “Sounds the Alert” on March 25 for the
20th Annual American Diabetes Alert ® Day
www.diabetes.org/alert
Diabetes has become the greatest public health crisis of the next quarter century. To address the burden of this disease, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is issuing an urgent call-to-action for Americans to find out their risk for type 2 diabetes during the 20 th annual American Diabetes Alert ® Day. More than six million Americans have diabetes, but don't even know it. Another 54 million Americans have pre-diabetes, placing them at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
 On American Diabetes Alert Day, held annually on the fourth Tuesday in March, the ADA encourages people who are overweight, physically inactive, and over the age of 45 years to take the American Diabetes Risk Test. The risk test asks seven simple questions about weight, age, lifestyle and family history – all potential risk factors for type 2 diabetes. People scoring 10 points or more are at a high risk for diabetes and are encouraged to schedule an appointment to see their doctor. The risk test, in English or Spanish, is available by calling the Association toll-free at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or by visiting www.diabetes.org/alert.
Among the primary risk factors for type 2 diabetes are being overweight, sedentary, over the age of 45 and having a family history of diabetes. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are at an increased risk, as are women who have had babies weighing more than nine pounds at birth.
Unfortunately, people with type 2 diabetes can live for years without realizing that they have the disease. While people with diabetes can exhibit noticeable symptoms, such as frequent urination, blurred vision and excessive thirst, most people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes do not show these overt warning signs at the time that they develop the disease. Often, type 2 diabetes only becomes evident when people develop one or more of its serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye damage, or nerve damage that can lead to amputations.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country, providing services to hundreds of communities.
To obtain a copy of the diabetes risk test or for more information about diabetes (in English or Spanish), please visit www.diabetes.org/alert or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).
Diabetes Alert Day - Flyer
Diabetes Alert Day - Test
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Dear El Paso Health Care Leaders:
Every two years, our office produces a document called Texas Borderlands: Frontier of the Future , which seeks to provide an overview of issues facing the Texas Border region. Month by month, we will release a new chapter. We have recently released the second installment of Texas Borderlands —the chapter on health care entitled "Ground Zero of Health Care in America ."® Please click here to view a pdf version of the chapter.
Here are important facts as it relates to the 43 counties of the Border region:
- 29 percent of Border residents are uninsured. Compare with the Texas rate of 24.5 percent and the national rate of 16 percent.
- One of out of four children living in the Border region do not have health insurance. Nationally, only 12 percent of children are uninsured.
- 26 percent of Border residents live below the federal poverty level compared to 17.5 percent statewide and 12.5 percent nationally.
- 34.4 percent of children in Texas Border counties are in families living below the federal poverty level—more than twice the national rate of 16%.
- Diabetes complications account for 52 deaths per 1,000 deaths in the Border region—almost twice the statewide average of 29.5 per 1,000 deaths.
- Tuberculosis infections occur more often along the Border—8.96 per 100,000 residents compared to Texas at 6.7 and the U.S. at 4.6 per 100,000.
- Of the 43 Border counties, all but one are federally designated medically underserved areas.
- In 2007, metro Border areas had an average of 145.2 direct care physicians per 100,000 residents and non-metro Border areas had an average of 70.7 per 100,000. Compare these averages with those of non-Border areas: 170.7 physicians per 100,000 in metro areas and 88.7 physicians per 100,000 in non-metro areas.
- An extreme shortage of dentists exists in the Border region. In 2007, Border metro areas had 15.7 dentists per 100,000 ( versus 41.1 dentists per 100,000 in non-Border metro areas ); Border non-metro areas had 11.8 dentists per 100,000 ( versus 25.2 dentists per 100,000 in non-Border, non-metro areas ).
The Texas Borderlands clearly face numerous health-related challenges, many of which are exacerbated by the area's poor access to health care, lack of resources, and a dismal health infrastructure. To address these problems and ensure a brighter future for the citizens of the Border region, Texas ' state leaders must improve accessibility to existing programs and develop innovative solutions for health care.
As always, we welcome any comments you may have. Please email your comments and/or suggestions to Sushma Jasti at sushma.jasti@senate.state.tx.us .
Keep the faith—it's worth the fight!
Very truly yours,
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Sushma Jasti
Legislative Analyst
Office of Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Texas State Capitol – E1.610
Austin , Texas 78711
512.463.0129 (phone)
512.463.0218 (fax) |
The 3rd Annual Border Summit sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Health Emergency Management will be held on Thursday and Friday, April 17 – 78, 2008 at the Camino Real Hotel in El Paso , Texas .
The goal of the Border Summit is to discuss unique public health emergency and pandemic influenza planning considerations in the Paso Del Norte area (the tri-states, New Mexico-Chihuahua-Texas). The Summit will bring together health, medical, hospitals, emergency management, environmental and other professionals from the tri-state border region to discuss national, state, and local plans and to develop a road map for strengthening relationships, agreements, and responding collectively and collaboratively to public health emergencies.
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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
R i c k P e r r y
For Immediate Distribution Governor's Press Office: 512-463-1826
February 27, 2008 Robert Black: robert.black@governor.state.tx.us
News Release Allison Castle: allison.castle@governor.state.tx.us
Gov. Perry Appoints Three to Health Disparities Task Force
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry appointed Darrell Sims of Fairview as presiding officer of the Health Disparities Task Force for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2009. He also appointed two new members to the board, which works to close the gap in access to health care among special or underserved populations across Texas .
Sims is an account manager of Perot Systems. He is co-chairman of the Student Achievement Initiative of Wichita Falls and member of the Air Force and Military Officers associations of America . He is also a past board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sheppard Heritage Center and the United Way of Wichita Falls . Sims is a retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force and is a past vice wing commander of Sheppard Air Force Base. He earned a bachelor's degree from Western New England College , master of business administration from Troy State University and a master's from the National War College . He replaces Martha Hargraves of Galveston .
Eva Margarita Moya of El Paso is the tuberculosis division director for the United States-Mexico Border Health Association and the advocacy, communications and social mobilization technical coordinator of Project Concern International. She was president of the United States-Mexico Border Health Association and past director of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission, U.S. Section. Additionally, Moya is an executive member of the El Paso Greater Chamber of Commerce Health Care Council, and a member of the National Latino Health Task Force and National Association of Social Workers. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and a master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin . She replaces Lydia Hernandez of Austin for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2010.
Elizabeth Anne Noser of Sugar Land is the medical director of Neurorehabilitation at Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, stroke director of Memorial Hermann Hospital Sugar Land and clinical assistant professor of neurology at the University of Houston Medical Center. She is also a member of the South Central Affiliate Committee of the American Heart Association, a health disparities scholar for the National Institute of Health National Center of Minority Health and Disparities, and past co-chair of the Stroke Progress Review Group for Recovery and Rehabilitation at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a medical degree from the University of Texas Houston Medical School. She is replacing Richard Bartlett of Crane for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2009.
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 Work is underway to develop the next decade of nacional Health promotion objectives. Stay informed and involved by going to www.healthypeople.gov
Visit the Healthy People website for up-to-date information on public events and opportunities related to Healthy People 2020. You will also find a link to the Public Comment Page, where you can submit your comments about the Healthy People initiative.
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Thu 1/17/2008
Director Walters will join President Bush to announce the results from the latest Monitoring the Future study.
According to this year's MTF, teen drug use has declined by 24 percent since 2001 for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined, with reductions in the use of nearly every drug in every drug prevalence category. This translates into approximately 860,000 fewer youth using illicit drugs in 2007 than in 2001.
Some key findings:
- Illicit drug use dropped 24 percent
- Marijuana use decreased 25 percent
- Steroid use dropped by one third
- Ecstasy use dropped 54 percent, cutting usage down to less than one half of what it was in 2001
- Methamphetamine use decreased 64 percent
The MTF study is the largest and most significant survey of youth drug use and measures drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students nationwide. Study participants report their drug use behaviors across three time periods: lifetime, past year, and past month. This year, 48,025 students from 403 public and private schools participated in the survey. The survey is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of HHS's National Institutes of Health, and conducted since its inception by the University of Michigan . Information from this study helps the nation to identify potential drug problem areas and ensure that resources are targeted to areas of greatest need.
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Eva M. Moya, TB Division Director for the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association is one of the of the 13 members of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020.
The first meeting of the The Secretary's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020 will be held on Thursday, January 31 and Friday, February 1. The two-day meeting will take place at: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C.
The Secretary's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020 will review the nation's health promotion and disease prevention objectives and efforts to develop goals and objectives to improve the health status and reduce health risks for Americans by the year 2020. The Committee will provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services advice and consultation for developing and implementing the next iteration of national health promotion and disease prevention goals and objectives and provide recommendations for initiatives to occur during the initial implementation phase of the goals and objectives. HHS will use the recommendations to inform the development of the national health promotion and disease prevention objectives for 2020 and the process for implementing the objectives. The intent is to develop and launch objectives designed to improve the health status and reduce health risks for Americans by the year 2020.
Learn more about Healthy People 2020 — Healthy People 2020 — www.healthypeople.gov
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DIABETES ATLAS
THIRD EDITION
International Diabetes Federation
A unique resource on diabetes. Covering 215 countries, the Diabetes Atlas provides data on a wide spectrum of topics, from epidemiology to economics.
The mission of the International Diabetes Federation
is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure
worldwide... Click Here
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TB Photovoice made local headlines on Channel 26 UNIVISION
with 2 seperate Articles
La Tuberculosis No Es Una Enfermedad Del Pasado.
Martes, 8 de Enero del 2008. 18:03
Por primera vez representantes de esta frontera viajan al Sur de Africa para exponer la problematica que representa la tuberculosis un mal que en este 2008 sigue presente a nivel mundial.
Tuberculosis en la frontera- Conferencia Global
Miercoles, 14 de Noviembre del 2007. 18:41
Representantes de tuberculosis de nuestra frontera viajaron hasta Africa para presentar el proyecto foto voz dentro de la conferencia global de tuberculosis.
< Click Here |
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Request for Nomination to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee...
Read PDF Summary Here
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Know Your HIV Status?
To find HIV Test Centers near you:
Text: Your Zip Code To: KnowIt or 566948.
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The Alliance of Border Coalitions is implementing an Underage drinking Campaign using a science based social norms all along the border
From October to December 2007
Download the PDF Campaign Posters Here:
ENGLISH | SPANISH
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The US Mexico Border Health Association is be supporting the dissemination of the tool kit along the Border. We are collaborating with CDC on several activities but we feel this one is of particular relevance for you and your partners during Border Bi-national Health Week and well as for Red Ribbon activities, both in October.
 Sabemos , is based on previous research using focus groups and key informant interviews, provides key messages to be communicated in both English and Spanish. The kit includes an interactive CD-ROM that contains electronic versions of the Sabemos print and media materials providing guidance on practical steps for creating smoke-free environments in the home, workplace, and community.
Click Here >
Letter to
Colleagues...
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NEWS clips Date: October 18, 2007
Containing the virus
Border officials: residents need to educate themselves on dengue prevention
By Melissa McEver
Brownsville Herald
BROWNSVILLE — Cameron County was ground zero in the continental United States' first outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever, according to research presented by health officials Wednesday.
Epidemiologists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and officials from the Texas Department of State Health Services have determined that in 2005 — during an outbreak of the dengue virus in Tamaulipas, Mexico — about 25 patients in Brownsville also were confirmed dengue cases.
Of those, nearly two-thirds had signs of dengue hemorrhagic fever, the more serious form of the disease, Allison Abell Banicki, epidemiologist for DSHS' Office of Border Health, said.
Banicki and several health officials from Texas and Tamaulipas spoke at the South Texas-Mexico Dengue Prevention and Control Coalition's planning meeting Wednesday in Brownsville.
People with previous exposure to dengue are at higher risk of developing hemorrhagic fever, and most of the U.S. cases involved people who had been previously exposed to the disease, Banicki said.
The findings add more puzzle pieces to the picture of what happened on both sides of the border during 2005's dengue outbreak, in which Tamaulipas reported more than 1,000 cases of the disease and more than 200 cases of hemorrhagic fever.
The state of Tamaulipas, which has a broader definition of what constitutes a confirmed case, put the number of dengue cases even higher, at more than 4,000.
Usually, most dengue cases reported in the U.S. are “imported,” meaning the person contracted the disease from Mexico or another country, said Dr. Brian Smith, regional director for DSHS' Region 11, which includes the Rio Grande Valley.
In 2005, however, the region saw its first cases of locally contracted dengue fever, according to a study published in August in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The study's findings implied that dengue is growing beyond its usual borders, researchers said.
To keep future epidemics at bay, Texas and Mexico both need to educate their citizens on dengue prevention and continue coordinating with each other, officials said.
Mexican health officials say they're facing an uphill battle in stopping the spread of dengue in their country.
Conditions in much of Mexico — including poor sanitation, proliferation of used-tire dumping and the presence of trash in residents' backyards — make it difficult to fully contain the disease, said Ernesto Lavin, preventive medicine coordinator for Tamaulipas' secretary of health. The mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus flourish near standing water in tires and trash.
“We have to change the mentality (in Mexico),” Lavin said. “We're trying to create a consciousness of the problem.”
The number of dengue cases in Tamaulipas has dropped significantly since the 2005 outbreak, however, with 143 cases in 2006 and 447 in 2007, according to Alfredo Rodriguez-Trujillo, state epidemiologist for Tamaulipas.
Only one dengue case was reported in Cameron County last year, said Laura Robinson, zoonosis control veterinarian for DSHS Region 11, in August. No confirmed cases of dengue have occurred in South Texas so far in 2007, epidemiologists said Wednesday.
Prevention is the key to stopping dengue, because the disease has no vaccine or treatment, Robinson said.
“It should be at the personal and community level,” she said.
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Information you’ll find in only one source
The Region of the Americas continues to experience three
major demographic shifts: population growth, urbanization,
and... Read More
A unique and authoritative information resource
for all health professionals
Oneof the Pan American Health Organization’s core
mandates is to collect and disseminate information on
health conditions and trends in the countries and territories
of the Americas. One key mechanism to accomplish
this mandate is to ... Read More
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Pandemic Inlfluenza Update
What Measures Can a Community Take to
Prevent Death During an Influenza
Pandemic?
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How Prepared Are You?
In recent years, the American people have been urged to “get ready” and to prepare for emergencies.
OPRIMA AQUI>
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El Paso, TX 79912