Border alliances helping meet future health goals

The U.S.- Mexico border region suffers from a long list of health conditions and unhealthiness. Those who live 62 miles north and south of the line have among the highest rates of blood and cholesterol levels, obesity and diabetes in the U.S. The region's diets are out of control causing cardiovascular disease to be more common in the Hispanic population.

The problems have caught the attention of various health groups who previously worked independently. The U.S. Mexico Border Health Commission and Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company, created alliances between various qualified health centers and organizations to attempt improve the health of the border region.

"The goals are increasing partnerships and creating a network to increase resources," said Laura Reichhardt, Arizona Coordinator for the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Outreach office with the Arizona Department of Health Services. "Many areas of in the region need health improvement."

A few of the organizations working together to achieve health goals include: the Mexico Secretariat of Health and Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, the Health Initiative of Americas, the Pan American Health Organization, the ten U.S.-Mexico border states and the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association.

Last week the Alliance for a Healthy Border, the name of the partnership, held Border Binational Health Week in the region to recommend lifestyle changes and address public health issues.

There is still a lot of work to be done.

The population of Hispanics is expected to reach 102 million by 2050 and make up nearly 25% of the total U.S. population. Right now, access to care is limited and increases in health conditions are predicted. Latino life expectancy rates are lower along the 2,000 mile border region than any other part of the United States.

To date, the Alliance has helped more than 11,000 people - a number that would have to jump drastically to have any profound impact on the Hispanic population's health, according to a press release. Although, evaluations by the University of Texas Pan-American shows that those who received educational and community outreach lost weight and had lower blood sugar levels.