WORKING GROUP ON HEALTH

November 12, 2003

BACKGROUND

In 1996, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Health of Mexico established the Working Group on Health of the Binational Commission. Historically, public health issues had been discussed under the Commission's Science and Technology Subgroup. The Secretaries endorsed the Working Group on Health as an opportunity for bilateral interchange and interaction in the area of public health and science. The Working Group on Health functions using a structure based on bilateral core groups that jointly agree upon and establish mechanisms to develop plans of action and to evaluate the goals attained. Currently, there are six Core Groups: Immunizations, Women's Health, Aging, Epidemiological Surveillance, Migrant Health, and Addictions (including subgroups on Substance Abuse and Tobacco).

PROGRESS & PLAN OF ACTION FOR 2004

Immunization Core Group: The Core Group continues to maintain close collaboration resulting in maintaining high vaccination rates in young children in Mexico and the United States. In addition, the Core Group has undertaken: 1) cost-benefit analysis of rubella vaccination strategy in Mexico; 2) analysis of a seroprevalence study for antibodies against rubella; and 3) exchange of epidemiological information and vaccination awareness materials. Next year, the group will enhance vaccine preventable disease surveillance; expand discussions on immunization registry systems; and continue discussions on preparedness for vaccine preventable diseases in the cases of binational public health emergencies.

Women's Health Core Group: There have been changes in Core Group leadership on both sides, but ongoing work continues. Funding for a Border Women's Health Institute has been obtained to enhance the capability of the layworkers/promotoras to serve as advocates in women's health promotion and disease prevention across the life span for the communities in which they practice. The "Pick Your Path to Health" model will serve as a conceptual model. Next year, the group will identify and develop policy and administrative strategies that would enhance women's health within the respective national agendas.

Aging Core Group: Mexican counterparts participated in a conference, "National Summit on Creating Caring Communities" in Orlando, Florida in September 2003. Sharing of experiences in the areas of health promotion, protection for the elderly, diabetes, high blood pressure, and nutrition and exercise programs are ongoing. Next year, the group will explore the possibility of holding a second U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trinational Symposium on Aging and of developing joint activities focused on the elderly living in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Epidemiological Surveillance & Information Core Group: Two meetings were held: 1) one established a set of guidelines for coordinated responses to epidemiologic events of binational interest and 2) the other one reviewed existing binational agreements regarding epidemiology. In addition, the idea of Mexico becoming a participating member of the U.S. Laboratory Response Network was discussed. Next year, the group will complete the draft set of guidelines and initiate Mexico's participation in the Laboratory Response Network.

Migrant Health Core Group: Core group members participated in Binational Health Week activities in Morelia, Michoacan in 2002. This event provided an opportunity for binational discussions concerning provision of primary health care and prevention services to mobile populations. A third Binational Health Week was held on October 12-19 in California that focused on diabetes, binational health insurance, health of agricultural workers, infectious disease, and research on migrant health. The Core Group will focus on improving communication infrastructure, exchange of information between countries, and building collaborative relationships between health professionals who are involved in migrant health in both countries.

Addictions Core Group: The Subgroup on Substance Abuse held a videoconference meeting in late October 2003 with two purposes: 1) To share and identify relevant materials for translation; and 2) to make plans to develop a resource guide of programs and resources available and also to make SAMHSA's on-line resources (training and resources) available to Mexico. The core group plans to work together with ONDCP, CIJ, and others to plan and hold the 5th US-Mexico Binational Demand Reduction Conference in April 2004 in the United States. The Subgroup on Tobacco Prevention has made considerable progress in advancing efforts to monitor the tobacco epidemic through a standard surveillance initiative. Key activities include the Global Youth Tobacco Survey and the Death Certification Project. Both sides are developing a joint report on "Collaborative Approaches for Tobacco Control in Mexico".

FUTURE PLAN OF ACTION PROJECTION:

During upcoming months, the Health Working Group will convene to consider the future direction of the various core groups. Restructuring the working group to fit changing priorities and relationships between the United States in Mexico is necessary, as the group continues to mature. This may result in mergers of groups, formation of new groups, expansions or phase-outs and the identification of cross cutting issues

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