U.S., MEXICO SECRETARIES KICK OFF HEALTH INITIATIVE
First time officials of both countries have united for annual event
Officials last week launched the 23rd edition of Binational Health Week with two special guests — U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and his counterpart from Mexico, Health Secretary Jorge Alcocer Varela.
It is the first time that the health secretaries of both countries participated at the kickoff of this annual event that involves all 53 Mexican consulates in the United States.
Although it initially adopted the name Binational Health Week, its activities now extend
throughout October.
Under this initiative, there will be free vaccination events, fairs, workshops, courses, glucose tests, eye exams, and other services that benefit Latino and Mexican communities abroad.
At the event Thursday at the Mexican consulate in San Diego, Becerra praised the way the two countries are working together to help hardworking people. He cited the case of his parents, who came to the U.S. with just $13 in their pockets to start a new life.
Becerra’s father was born in California but was raised in Tijuana. His mother grew up in Guadalajara, he said. Starting with that $13, his parents raised four children who eventually graduated from college or served in the military.
“I say with the pride that any son of immigrants would say: I am your testament to what happens when people are given a chance to prove that they are worth it,” Becerra said during his speech. “And
I hope that we recognize that the first way we make them the most valuable is by letting them have good health.”
Becerra added that “the next time that couple comes with $13 in their pocket, they will have a consulate that can help them a little bit more.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the “Ventanilla de Salud” initiative, which began as a pilot program in San Diego. One of its first promoters was the then-executive director of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (known as IME by its initials in Spanish) and now the consul general of
Mexico in San Diego, Carlos González Gutiérrez.
The program — available all year at Mexican consulates in the U.S. — has two main goals: help immigrants find a medical home to facilitate their access to basic health services, and promote a culture of disease prevention, said González Gutiérrez.
The “Ventanilla de Salud” services are available to an average of 450 people who visit the Mexican consulate every day.
The program provides information and orientation so everyone, regardless of origin or immigration status, can receive services.
Alcocer highlighted the historic visit to San Diego, given that never before had the health secretaries of the two countries met in an event of this type, he said. It was also the first time that both secretaries visited the Mexican consulate in San Diego.
Alcocer said that this is “an undeniable testimony of Secretary Becerra’s commitment to the health of our community and of the friendship that exists between our countries in favor of the health of people regardless of borders.
“Today is an extraordinary confirmation of the importance of prime numbers, in particular of the mentioned number 13. Congratulations, Secretary Xavier Becerra, those $13 were very well used.”