- The Health Window Strategy has been in place since 2002
- Between January 2021 and August 2022, 2.1 million people were assisted, with 8.7 million health services provided
- The Health Ministry is hosting the Academic Forum on Access to Health Services
By providing access to medical services for the Mexican community in the U.S. through its Health Windows Strategy (HWS), Mexico has set an example for Latin America and other regions of the world with human mobility that do not have similar programs, said Health Secretary Jorge Alcocer.
At the inaugural conference of the Academic Forum on Access to Health Services, with the theme "Binational hope, health without borders," held as part of the 22nd Binational Health Week, Secretary Alcocer said that Mexico's health strategy aims at disease prevention and providing primary medical care.
Accompanied by officials from the Foreign Ministry, state health agencies and officials from Mexico's consulates in the U.S. and Canada, he highlighted the importance of improving the Health Windows and of promoting projects for mobile medical attention, publicity and mental health. He also proposed holding binational health weeks up to four times a year; ongoing training to improve the services provided by the health windows; evaluating their performance; defining priority projects by zones; creating a social network among participants and planning common action strategies.
He explained that the goals of the HWS are to make it easier for Mexican immigrants to access services, promote a culture of prevention, and provide information to prevent illness.
Secretary Alcocer reported that there are 49 Health Windows, in addition to two mobile ones. Between January 2021 and August 2022, they served 2.1 million people and provided 8.7 million services.
Binational Health Week involves the efforts of community organizations, federal and state agencies and volunteers to improve the well-being of the Latin American migrant population in the United States. It takes place every year in October in Mexico's consulates. There are fairs, courses and workshops for the migrant population on preventive measures, health and wellness, timely glucose detection, measuring body mass index, eye examinations and HIV tests, among others.
The information collected by this strategy shows that the main health issues in the immigrant population were: high glucose and cholesterol, excess weight, obesity, high blood pressure, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis.
From January 2021 to August 2022, the Medical Health Units offered 2,100,380 services, treated 507,337 people and provided 137,143 vaccinations.
The main health conditions treated were for obesity and overweight, 72.14 percent; high blood pressure, 45.23 percent; elevated cholesterol, 27.87 percent; and glucose, 27.73 percent.
Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the HWS had to adapt to the new needs, adding guidance, testing and referral services for the respiratory infection. So far, more than 200,000 tests and 415,373 vaccines have been given.
The HWS and mobile units gave out 35,347 questionnaires from January 2021 to August 2022. Of the total number of people interviewed, 54 percent were tested: 25 percent were positive and 1.2 percent had not received results; 74 percent were vaccinated and 81 percent had received the full vaccination schedule.
Among the most reported mental illnesses are stress, worry about the future and anxiety. In terms of mental health, the HWS and mobile medical units identify risks and offer timely referrals to specialists from the Psychology School of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
From June to August 2022, 18 people were referred for psychological care and 436 sessions of one hour or more were given. The most common mental health conditions are anxiety, 34 percent; violence, 14 percent; and stress, 11 percent. In addition, 67 promoters were invited to participate in a new program of evaluation and training activities.
During the opening ceremony, Martha Caballero from the Health Ministry reported that the Forum on Access to Health Services enables a dialogue between experts from Mexico and the U.S. on issues related to health care for the Mexican migrant population in the United States. The forum participants identify challenges to prevention and care, opportunities for collaboration on binational public policies and ways to improve the health and well-being of Mexican citizens.
Participating in the forum are officials from the Health and Foreign Affairs Ministries; UNAM; El Colegio de la Frontera Norte; the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission; the Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Drexel University; the University of Nebraska and the State University of San Diego, among others. They address issues such as mental health, addictions, chronic degenerative diseases, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cancer.
This academic forum is part of the 22nd Binational Health Week that will be inaugurated on Friday, October 7 at the Health Ministry in Acapulco, Guerrero.
The director of Health and Sports of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME), Erick Hernández, reported that during the 22nd Binational Health Week, personnel from the 51 Health Windows participate throughout the U.S. to benefit 11 million Mexican migrants.
He said that the strategies and presentations given by experts during the forum at the Guerrero Health Ministry will guide the Mexican government's health priorities for the Mexican migrants in the U.S.
He concluded by saying that the Binational Health Week is the largest community health event in the United States, and is supported by 700 non-profit organizations; universities, county health clinics, state health centers, and centers for disease prevention.
