● During Binational Health Week, an average of 400,000 people are served: Jorge Alcocer
● 8.7 million services were provided at the Health Windows between January 2021 and August 2022: IME Executive Director Ricardo Santana
● The Guerrero State Government recognizes the efforts of the Health and Foreign Ministries to assist the migrant communities: Evelyn Salgado
Due to the challenges migrants face regarding access to medical services, Mexico will continue to collaborate with government agencies and civil society in the United States, said Health Minister Jorge Alcocer.
At the inauguration of the 22nd Binational Health Week, under the theme of "Binational hope, health without borders," the Health Minister said that, due to the health strategy for migrants, their quality of life has improved for more than two decades. Partnerships are essential to enhance these actions and for them to arrive faster.
Secretary Alcocer reported that during the binational health weeks, an average of 400,000 people are served, and that the current cooperation between the two countries will make it possible to reach even more migrants. To this end, alternatives that facilitate access, strengthen actions and make it possible to visit difficult and remote places must be studied. This is something that is already done in the Mexican state of Guerrero.
IME Executive Director B, Ambassador Ricardo Santana, reported that 8.7 million services were provided to Mexicans in the United States at the consular helath windows between January 2021 and August 2022.
This coordinated effort is possible with the technical and financial support of the Health Ministry, and with the operational assistance of the Foreign Ministry, the IME, social organizations and Mexico's consulates.
Ambassador Santana said that the great challenge now is to serve the 12 million Mexican migrants who work in the United States, and the four million Mexican-Americans who lack social security.
“The Health Windows strategy in the United States is an international example of access to medical services, whose aim is disease prevention and primary medical care,” he said.
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said that she will continue to promote international collaboration to increase access to health services for the migrant population outside the country.
She said that in past years the Binational Health Week has benefited almost half a million Mexican immigrants who do not have health insurance or access to the human right to health.
She said the state government recognizes the efforts of the Health and Foreign Ministries, US institutions and organizations to assist migrant individuals and communities.
She reiterated her commitment to health care for the families of Guerrero, and the prevention and care of chronic non-communicable diseases and mental health, with full respect for human rights.
Attending on behalf of the Health Ministry were the Secretary of the General Health Council, Marco Cantero Cortés; the lawyer for the Health Ministry, Maricela Lecuona; the Director General of the National Center for Preventive Programs and Disease Control (Cenaprece), Ruy López; and the Director of Epidemiological Information, Christian Arturo Zaragoza.
Also in attendance were the heads of the Institute for Health and Wellbeing (Insabi), Juan Antonio Ferrer Aguilar; and the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (Issste), Pedro Zenteno; as well as the Director General of the National System for Integral Family Development (SNDIF), Nuria Fernández; health secretaries from various states; officials from the Foreign Ministry, and those in charge of health care in Mexico's consulates in the U.S. and Canada.
