XXIII Binational Health Week

[Editor’s Note: Migrant Clinicians Network is the fiscal agency for Ventanilla de Salud offices at the Mexican Consulates in Austin, Del Rio, and Eagle Pass, Texas. These Ventanillas de Salud have had an incredibly impactful autumn. Here, Roxana Pineda, MPH, our Ventanilla de Salud Coordinator in Austin, summarizes some of the work. Learn more about our partnership on our Ventanilla de Salud page.]

The work of the Ventanillas de Salud simply does not stop! Earlier this month, the Ventanilla de Salud (VdS) in Del Rio, TX, joined the cross-border vaccination campaign at the Del Rio entry bridge between the US and Mexico. Thanks to a collaboration with the Acuña, Coahuila Maquiladora Association, 900 people received a COVID-19 vaccine during the one-day event. Among the organizations that contributed to this vaccination campaign are Authorities of Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Customs and Border Protection, Staff of the Health Center of Ciudad Acuña and The Other Guys Pharmacy.
 

This incredible vaccination event happened just weeks after the VdS Del Rio team’s celebration of the 23rd annual Binational Health Week. The main goal of Binational Health Week is to provide health care opportunities to communities. These opportunities include providing educational sessions on different health topics, informing the community of the resources available to them, and directly providing them with health care services.

During this event, 200 kidney, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) screenings, 150 glucose screenings, 17 HIV screenings, 82 glaucoma screenings and 50 general vision screenings were provided thanks to the participation of UMC, DSHS, MHM, Del Rio Housing Authority, COTRINA, WIC, SWTJC, MCHE, Galo Eye Clinic, Del Rio Lions Club and Ryan White Foundation. Also participating were Dr. Laura Chami, NKF, Valverde County Community Center, San Antonio Dental Association, DIF Acuña, CBP, BCFS Human Services, Del Rio City Government, and SFDRCISD.
 

Meanwhile at the VdS in Austin, we were able to provide 233 vaccinations, 100 kidney tests, 100 BMI, 23 HIV and STD tests, 65 eye exams, 30 pairs of free eyeglasses, 65 vitamin and eye drops, 25 glucose tests, 77 liver tests, 15 mammograms, 9 gynecological exams, 127 blood pressure tests, 14 cholesterol tests, and 9 pap smears. A total of 1,215 people were served and 361 people participated in educational sessions on different health topics. 
 

This great work was made possible by the combined efforts of the following organizations: United Healthcare, National Kidney Foundation, Austin Public Health, The Source, Big Pink Bus, Lone Star Circle of Care, Open Eyes Beyond Border, Central Health, CommUnity Care, Walgreens, Ascension Seton, Dell Medical School, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Superior Health Plan, Austin Animal Center, EMS, AHF, SAFE, Sustainable Food Center, Farm Share, Austin Public Health Neighborhood, Half Helen, It's Time Texas, Alcoholics Anonymous, UDDP, Lirios Pediatric, AVANCE-Austin, Foundation Communities, Dell Children's Health Plan, Amhiga Hispana, Mexicanas en Austin, Beauty Couture, Yoltic Austin, Sana Yoga, Unitedway TX, UT Social Resource Center, Austin Public Library, World Financial, Wellness Center, Planned Parenthood, American Heart Association, Todos Juntos, AGE of Central Texas, Pastrana & Garcia, Austin Community College, Austin Urban Technology, Sonrisas Dental, Salud-Salud, Pinnacle, Las Comadres, AYUDA Inc, Integral Care, MISMA, El Buen Samaritano, Sendero Health Plan, NAMI, Catholic Charities, La Raza 95.1 FM, Univision Austin, and El Mundo Newspaper.
 

Like the Del Rio and Austin VdS offices, the Eagle Pass VdS held a series of events aimed at improving the health of its own community during Binational Health Week. VdS Eagle Pass was able to provide 200 immunizations, 190 kidney screenings, 255 blood pressure screenings, 230 BMI, 100 glucose, 60 triglyceride, and 60 cholesterol screenings. Providing these health services to the Eagle Pass community was made possible thanks to alliance with: Texas Department of Health, Wintergarden Women’s Shelter, Eagle Pass Public Library, Maverick County Hospital District, MHP Salud, Walgreens, Candles for Life, National Kidney Foundation, Cato Fashions, United Medical Center, City of Eagle Pass, Kids Are First, Las Colonias Program, Southwest Texas Junior College, Southwest Border AHEC, Walmart, HEB, Clinica Villanueva, Maverick Nursing and Rehabilitation, New Life, South Texas Aging & Disability Resource Center, Lincoln Heritage, State Farm, Area Agency on Aging, Hacienda de Paz, United Healthcare, Driscoll Health Plan, Dr. Laura Chami, Dr. Jerónimo Juárez, Border Federal Credit Union, Falcon International Bank, and JC Marron, Commercial Broxen USA.

Learn more about MCN’s partnership with these three incredible Ventanilla de Salud offices here. Are you in the Austin, Del Rio, or Eagle Pass regions? Be sure to follow them on Facebook and share the community events, so that more people can benefit from the free and accessible health services they coordinate.