Vol. 5, Issue 2 - July 2007.indd - United States

United States-México
Border Health Commission
Commissioners
Michael O. Leavitt
Commissioner for the United
States
Secretary of Health and Human
Services
Volume 5, Issue 2
THE UNITED STATES - MÉXICO BORDER PREPARES:
A BINATIONAL PANDEMIC INFLUENZA TABLE TOP
Dr. José Córdova Villalobos
Commissioner for México
Secretary of Health for México
Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo, MD,
MSc, PhD
Delegate for Secretary Leavitt
U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services
Lic. Mauricio Bailón González
Delegate for Secretary Córdova
Mexico Secretariat of Health
United States Section
Arizona
Susan Gerard
Emma Torres, BSW
Cecilia Rosales, MD, MS
California
Mark B Horton, MD
Rosemarie M. Johnson, MD
Lawrence E. Kline, DO, FCCP,
FACP, D.ABSM
New Mexico
Alfredo Vigil, MD
Tom G. Lindsey, DO, FACOS
Bruce D. San Filippo, MD
Texas
David L. Lakey, MD
José Manuel de la Rosa, MD
Antonio Falcon, MD
México Section
Baja California
Dr. José Guadalupe Bustamante
Moreno
Dr. Alfonso Valenzuela Espinoza
Chihuahua
Arq. Carlos Carrera Robles
Dr. Octavio Martínez Pérez
Coahuila
Dr. Raymundo Sebastián
Verduzco Rosán
Dr. Jorge A. Durón Martínez
Nuevo León
Dr. Gilberto Montiel Amoroso
Dr. Dora Elia Cortes Hernández
Sonora
Dr. Raymundo López Vucovich
Dr. Jaime León Varela
Tamaulipas
Dr. Rodolfo Torre Cantú
Dr. Luis Fernando Garza Frausto
August 2007
RADM Craig Vanderwagen, Dr. Rosaly Correa-deAraujo, Dr. Miguel Betancourt, Dr. José G.
Bustamante Moreno, and Dr. Mark Horton.
The United States – México Border Health
Commission in partnership with the
California Department of Health Services
and the Secretariat of Health for the State
of Baja California hosted the first-ever
United States – México, federal-state,
pandemic flu exercise: The Binational
Pandemic Influenza Table Top Workshop,
in San Diego, California on February 26,
2007.
Well over 60 participants participated in
the table top, including Dr. Mark Horton,
State Public Health Officer (and now the
director of the California Department of
Public Health) and Dr. José Guadalupe
Bustamante, Secretary of Health for the
State of Baja California. Representing Dr.
José Angel Córdova Villalobos, Secretary
of Health of México was Dr. Miguel
Bentacourt Cravioto, General Director for
Health Emergencies, México Secretariat
of Health. Representing Dr. Michael
Leavitt, U.S. Secretary of Health, was Dr.
Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo, Delegate for
Secretary Leavitt to the U.S. – México
Border Health Commission – U.S. Section,
and Director of the Office of the Americas/
Office of Global Health Affairs; and, Rear
Admiral Craig Vanderwagen, Assistant
Secretary for Preparedness and Response,
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
Continues on page 7
This collaborative binational event served
as the second installment of a two-phase
binational influenza initiative proposed by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services and the México Secretariat of
Health in mid-2006. The initial session of
this initiative occurred during the Annual
Meeting of the U.S. – México Border
Health Commission in Hermosillo, Sonora,
México, in November 2006 which was
presented as: The United States – México
Border Prepares – A Binational Pandemic Dr. Larry Kline, Dr. Mark Horton, Dr. John Kurata,
and Mr. Han Kang at one of the work group sessions.
Influenza Forum.
Page 2
NATIONAL INFANT IMMUNIZATION WEEK . . . . . . .
Immunizations protect children from more vaccine
preventable diseases than ever before; are extremely
safe thanks to advancements in medical research,
and children who are not immunized increase the
chance that others will get the disease.
These were some of the key messages
emphasized during National Infant
Immunization Week 2007 celebrated
during the week of April 21-28. Over 500
communities throughout the United States
from New York
City to San Diego,
California joined
39 other countries
in the Western
Hemisphere who
participated in
Vaccination Week
in the Americas,
highlighting the
need for routine
vaccinations and
promoting access to
health services for
infants and children.
Top: Dr. Antonio Falcon, Texas Member, BHC;
Upper Right: Dr. Jeanne Santoli, Deputy
Director, Immunization Services Division, CDC;
Lower Right: Dr. Brian Smith, Regional Medical
Director, Health Service Region 11, TDSHS.
Since 2004, the
United StatesMéxico Border
Health Commission (BHC) has partnered with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
in promoting the importance of immunizations
in the United States – México border region.
This healthy partnership has been organized in
conjunction with the U.S. –focused National Infant
Immunization Week, México’s National Health
Weeks which have been celebrated since 1991
to promote increased immunization coverage
throughout México; and with Vaccination Week in
the Americas, which is the campaign directed by
the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) that
promotes immunizations throughout the Americas.
Vaccines are among the most successful and costeffective public health tools available for preventing
disease and death. They not only help protect
vaccinated individuals from developing potentially
serious diseases, they also help protect entire
communities by preventing and reducing the spread
of infectious agents.
Equally important are
the advocacy efforts that
have transpired, serving
to educate and inform
the general public on
the need for routine
vaccinations as well as
basic health care.
NIIW/VWA
events kicked
off on April
20, 2007 in
Mission, Texas
with the Hidalgo
County Health
Department
hosting the
inaugural
NIIW/VWA
Conference.
U.S. Section
Commission
Member, Dr. Antonio Falcon presented on
“Vaccine Practices in the U.S.- Texas Border.”
Also presenting at this binational conference
was Dr. Jeanne Santoli, Deputy Director of the
Immunization Services Division, Centers for
Disease Control & Prevention; Dr. Maria Teresa
Cerqueria, Chief, U.S.-México Border Field
Office, Pan American Health Organization, El Paso;
and, Dr. Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, the University
of Houston Health Science Center, School of
Public Health at UT Brownsville. Dr. Maria de
Jesus López, Director of the State of Tamaulipas
Immunization Program, represented Dr. Rodolfo
Torre Cantú, Tamaulipas Director of Health.
Page 3
. . . . . . .
VACCINATION WEEK IN THE AMERICAS
Highlighting the importance of infant
immunizations, 45 health departments
and coalitions throughout California
participated in the 2007 “Up to Date?
Celebrate!” campaign. Fifty-six
events ranging from free immunization
clinics to parades with floats were held
throughout the state. Many activities
targeted under-served populations
throughout the state and the California
border region.
THE U.S.-MÉXICO
BORDER HEALTH
COMMISSION (BHC)
CONGRATULATES THE
HIDALGO COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
FOR HOSTING THE
2007 NIIW/VWA
INAUGURAL EVENTS.
Dr. Maria Teresa Cerqueria, Mr. Eduardo Olivarez,
Dr. Jeanne Santoli at the NIIW/VWA kick-off event
in Mission, Texas.
Other weeklong events in Hidalgo
County included educational fairs, site
visits to local clinics, free immunization
clinics, a health expo, a children’s health
fair, and public service announcements
on twelve media outlets with
messages promoting the importance of
immunizations.
El Paso, Texas joined in the celebration,
with the approval of a Proclamation on
NIIW/VWA by the El Paso City Council
on April 24, 2004. Immunization
drives and vaccine awareness
campaigns spread the message that
vaccination is a shared responsibility.
Children received free or low-cost
immunizations at convenient locations
throughout the city.
The New Mexico Department
of Health and the New Mexico
Immunization Coalition organized
extra clinics and extended their office
hours for the convenience of parents.
Health fairs organized throughout
the state also proved instrumental
in promoting immunizations and
providing education.
In Arizona, the Department of Health
Services through the Division of Public
Health Services promoted immunizations
at walk-in clinics throughout the state.
In conjunction with events surrounding
NIIW, the 14th Annual Immunization
Conference was held on April 25-26,
2007. The two day event featured local
and national speakers presenting the
most recent immunization information
available to residents.
Throughout the border numerous
partners from México collaborated on
binational activities and events through
the administration of vaccines, training
events and other local government efforts.
Irene Rivas, Sandy Beckford, and Dusty Warden present
the NIIW/VWA Proclamation to the El Paso City
Council on April 24, 2007.
Page 4
OUTREACH OFFICE HIGHLIGHTS
At table sitting from LtR Cecilia Rosales, MD, Emma Torres, Raquel Rubio
Goldsmith; Standing: Elvia Salazar (MEXFAM) and Robert Guerrero,
Catalina Denman of El Colegio de Sonora
Dr. Cecilia Rosales and Ms. Emma Torres, U.S.
Section Members, U.S. – México Border Health
Commission, joined with the Arizona Office of
Border Health and Outreach Office to host the 2007
Information for Action Conference VII: Border
Health Challenges in a Global Economy, held in
April in Tucson, Arizona. Emma Torres presented on
the “Challenges to farm workers’ health at the U.S.
– México Border,” during the panel presentations
portion of the conference.
The conference was sponsored by the Arizona
Department of Health Services, including the
Office of Border Health, Office of Chronic Disease
Prevention and Nutrition; the U.S. – México Border
Health Commission – Arizona Outreach Office; the
University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman
Arizona College of Public Health; the Arizona
Health Science Center – Office of Academic Access
and Advancement; and the Southeast Arizona
Area Health Education Center. Sponsors from
México included the Secretaría de Salud de Sonora
– Oficina binacional de salud pública de la frontera
Sonora-Arizona; El Colegio de Sonora; and, the
Asociación Sonorense para la salud reproductiva,
A.F. (MexFam).
The Arizona Office of Border Health and Outreach
Office hosted the second triannual meeting of the
U.S. – México Offices of Border Health in Tucson,
Arizona in May 2007. Representatives from both
the U.S. and México Sections were present as well
as representatives of the ten border state Outreach
Offices.
Dr. Cecilia Rosales hosted the meeting attendees
during a special activity that included formal
presentations from post-graduate students of the
University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman
College of Public Health and a representative of the
Global Health Alliance. The presentations addressed
a variety of border health related topics and generated
much discussion as to the recommendations and
findings presented by the students. A special thanks
goes to the Arizona Department of Health Services
and especially to Robert Guerrero, Director of
the Arizona Office of Border Health and Laura
Reichhardt, Coordinator of the Arizona Outreach
Office for hosting this meeting of the Outreach
Offices.
Dr. Abelardo García, Dr. Mario Holguin, Dr. Ernesto
Ramírez (standing), Denisse Esquivel and Héctor
Serrat (sitting) at the Second Triannual Meeting of the
Outreach Offices in Tucson, AZ.
E-Border Health
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at www.borderhealth.org
Page 5
OUTREACH OFFICE HIGHLIGHTS
Health Epidemiologist, Ms. Imelda Machado, Head
of Chihuahua State Health Laboratories, and other
associated staff representatives. The New Mexico
Office of Border Health and Scientific Laboratory
Division invited the Chihuahua laboratory staff to
conduct a similar site visit to New Mexico facilities in
the coming months.
Staff of the New Mexico and Chihuahua Health Departments.
Paul Dulin, Director of the New Mexico Office of
Border Health and acting New Mexico Outreach
Office Coordinator, headed a delegation from
New Mexico on March 27-29, 2007 on a visit of
Chihuahua State Health Services laboratory and
infectious disease epidemiology installations.
The team visited facilities in the City of Chihuahua
and Ciudad Juárez to discuss improving technical
collaboration on issues of binational laboratory
analysis focused on border related diseases.
The New Mexico delegation consisted of Dr. Debra
Horensky, Chief of Biological Sciences, Adam
Aragon, Virologist/Serologist, and Nicole Tafoya,
Environmental Microbiologist—all of the New
Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory
Division, Albuquerque, New Mexico—and Leticia
Sereceres-Murphy, Epidemiologist from New
Mexico Department of Health/Region 5, in Las
Cruces.
The objective of the visit was to begin building
cross-border professional relationships as a basis
for implementing binational epidemiological and
surveillance activities related to infectious diseases,
including seasonal and pandemic influenza and
tuberculosis; as well as developing mutuallysupported capacities in the shared Border Region of
New Mexico and Chihuahua.
The delegation met with Dr. Octavio Martínez,
acting Chihuahua Secretary of Social Promotion,
Dr. Luis Carlos Esquivel, Chihuahua State Health
Coordinator, Dr. Gumaro Barrios, Chihuahua State
In May 2007 leaders of the State Health Departments
in the Paso del Norte region joined in a partnership
to establish the Binational Tri-State Border
Epidemiology and Surveillance Team (BEST).
Organizations represented included the Pan American
Health Organization, the Texas Office of Border
Health and Texas Department of State Health
Services (Region 9/10), the New Mexico Department
of Health Region 5 and Office of Border Health,
the El Paso City-County Health and Environmental
District, and the Chihuahua State Health Services
Office of the State Epidemiologist and Juarez Health
Jurisdiction.
The initial goals of the BEST are to: Assess the threat
of human disease potential within the Health Service
Region; select priority diseases for surveillance;
identify areas in need of international cooperation and
assistance; and, expand formal training for health care
providers in the region. The BEST will meet initially
every month, seeking to integrate coordination among
various ongoing projects, including the Border
Infectious Disease Surveillance Project (BIDS),
the Early Warning Infectious Disease Surveillance
Project (EWIDS), and other efforts under the
Security and Prosperity Partnership, Pandemic Flu
Preparedness initiative, and other routine cross-border
epidemiological activities.
The mission of the
United States-México
Border Health Commission is
to provide international leadership to
optimize health and quality of life along
the United States-México border.
Page 6
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE MÉXICO SECTION
The México Secretariat of
Health recently announced
the appointment of
Ambassador Eleazar
Benjamín Ruíz y Ávila to
the position of Executive
Secretary for the México
Section of the United
States-México Border
Health Commission,
effective July 1, 2007.
Ambassador Ruíz y Ávila is recognized as an
International Human Rights expert, with extensive
experience throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa,
Asia, and the Middle East. He has specialized
in multilateral negotiations with experience in
such forums as the United Nations (UN) and the
Organization of American States (OAS), with
particular focus in the areas of human rights,
migration, and social development.
As a career member of the Mexican Foreign
Service he has served in Mexican Embassies in the
United States, Belize and Denmark, as well as in
the Mexican Consulates in the states of Michigan
and Ohio. Ambassador Ruíz has also served as the
General Director of International Affairs for the
National Commission on Human Rights, as the
General Director of Human Rights for the Secretariat
of Foreign Affairs, and most recently as the Delegate
of the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs in the State of
Guanajuato, México.
Ambassador Ruíz’s education includes a Masters
degree in National Planning and Security, from
the Center for Superior Naval Studies, México
Secretariat of the Navy, graduating with highest
honors in 2006; Masters degree in Public
Administration, from the Public Administration
Superior Studies Institute, México, D.F., 1981;
and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations,
Autonomous University of México, 1980. He has
completed additional formal education in Diplomatic
Studies, from the Matías Romero Institute of
Diplomatic Studies of the Secretariat of Foreign
Relations, Tlatelolco, México, D.F., 1981; and in
Human Rights,
from the InterAmerican Institute
of Human Rights
of the Organization
of American States,
Costa Rica, 1991.
Border Binational Health Week 2007
Coinciding with México’s Third National Health Week
and the 7th Binational Health Week
October 14-19, 2007
For additional information contact:
Monica Reyes
U.S. Section Office
915-532-1006 / 866-785-9867
mreyes@borderhealth.org
Paola Pliego
México Section Office
01152-55-3611-0765
ppliego@saludfronteriza.org.mx
www.borderhealth.org
Page 7
Pan Flu Table Top - continued from page 1
This binational workshop was vital to improving
cross-border pandemic flu planning, in that there is
a multitude of specific planning, preparedness and
response issues that become more complex when
addressed in communities along the U.S. – México
border region. The workshop focused on three
key components of cross-border communication,
which addressed the issues of “content” (identifying
information that would be shared); “process”
(identifying who that information would be shared
with); and, “technology” (identifying those systems
that would be used to share that information).
Workgroups were organized and tasked with a
scenario of three stages of severity, determined by the
stage of the pandemic and each group evaluated how
the participating organizations would respond in the
event of an outbreak.
A report of this table-top workshop was presented
at the Security & Prosperity Partnership/EWIDS
Trilateral Workshop held in March 2007 in El Paso,
Texas. Follow-up actions forthcoming from this
exercise will be acted upon jointly by the U.S. México Border Health Commission in conjunction
with both federal governments and State and local
health departments.
The workshop also included representatives of the
U.S. and México Border Health Commission Outreach
Offices, U.S. State Offices of Border Health, State
Pandemic Flu Programs and other invited guests. The
U.S. - México Border Health Commission would
like to thank the California and Baja California
Departments of Health for their leadership in hosting
this event and especially to Dr. John Kurata, Director
of the California Office of Binational Border Health
(COBBH) (formerly the Director of the Early Warning
Infectious Disease Surveillance Project (EWIDS), and
his staff for their work in planning and coordinating
this table top workshop.
PHOTOVOICE PROJECT
“Only death has no solution”
Tuberculosis (TB) is an
infectious disease that
affects every community
and is often referred to
as a disease of the poor.
Along the United StatesMéxico border, TB rates
top national rates. From
1993 through 2001,
76.7 percent of foreignborn cases in the United
States were found in
the four border states
of Arizona, California,
New Mexico, and
Texas.
photographic exhibits, presentations from binational
experts on local and national TB rates, discussion
of the causes and treatment options for TB, personal
testimonies from persons affected by TB, and panel
discussions with policy makers focused on mobilizing
and encouraging increased commitment and resources
targeting TB control.
This border event was sponsored by the AmayaLacson Tuberculosis Photovoice Project founded by
Romel Saulog Lacson, an international public health
“Only death has no solution;
everything else does. We have
advocate who devotes his time fighting TB throughout
to face life with our best foot
the world. The El Paso/Cuidad Juarez based project,
forward and our will. We can’t let
Border Tuberculosis Photovoice Project: Voices and
Tuberculosis steal our life away.”
-LeticiaImages, is working towards making positive changes
TB Photovoice Participant
for individuals and families affected by TB throughout
the U.S. – Mexico border region. This photo voice
approach, initially developed by Dr. Caroline Wang
In an effort to look at the human side of TB, the
and Dr. Mary Ann Burris, is a unique tool for
United States-Mexico Border Health Association
creating social action within communities to develop
(USMBHA) hosted an event during World TB
healthful policies. For more information on the Border
Day 2007, March 14, 2007: Border Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis Photovoice Project, please visit the
Voices and Images, at the Chamizal National Park
Amphitheatre, El Paso, Texas. The information shared U.S. – Mexico Border Health Association at
during that event raised awareness about TB through
www.usmbha.org.
Page 8
U.S.-MÉXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION - MEMBER PROFILES
Dr. Cecilia Rosales serves as
an Associate Professor in the
Community, Environment and
Policy Division of the Mel and
Enid Zuckerman College of Public
Health, University of Arizona
(UoA), Tucson, Arizona.
Dr. Rosales previously served as
the Chief of the Office of Border
Health, Division of Public Health
Services, with the Arizona Department of Health Services
(ADHS), from 2000-2005. She has received numerous
state and national recognition for her public health work
and for her involvement in community based public health
research and interventions on the U.S. - México border.
In 2004, Dr. Rosales was recognized by Congressman Raul
Grijalva as a Local Legend award recipient: Changing the
Face of Medicine in 2004. Also in 2004, the University
of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public
Health recognized her as the 2004 Alumnus of the Year.
Most recently in 2005, the Arizona-Mexico Commission
presented her with the Andy Nichols Award in recognition
of her collaborative public health work carried out in the
Arizona-Sonora border region.
Dr. Rosales earned a Master of Science degree in
Epidemiology from the University of Arizona, Mel and
Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health in 2000; her
medical degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad
Juárez, School of Medicine in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua
México in 1987; and, her bachelor’s degree in Public
Administration from the University of Arizona in 1976.
Dr. Rosales was appointed a member of the U.S.
Section in 2006 and serves as the U.S. Co-chair of the
Communications and Outreach Work Group and is a
member of the Priority Setting Committee and the Border
Health Research Work Group.
In the United States:
201 E. Main Dr., Suite 1616
El Paso, TX 79901
Tel. (915) 532-1006 /
(866) 785-9867
Fax (915) 532-1697
In México:
Ejército Nacional 209,
3er Piso, Oficina 3 “A”
Colonia Verónica Anzures
Delegación Miguel Hidalgo
C.P. 11300 México, D.F.
Tel./Fax (01152-55) 3611-0765
Dr. Miguel Alfonso
Valenzuela Espinoza is the
Chief of the Pathology and
Cytology Department at the
Hospital General de Tijuana
(Tijuana General Hospital),
and has served since 1986 as
a Professor for Pediatrics at
the Universidad Autónoma de
Baja California (Autonomous
University of Baja California).
From 1978 to 1982, Dr. Valenzuela Espinoza was professor
for Pathology and Immune Pathology at the Universidad
Autónoma de México (Autonomous University of Mexico).
Dr. Valenzuela Espinoza received his medical degree from
the School of Medicine of the Universidad Autónoma
de México (Autonomous University of Mexico) in 1976.
He completed his undergraduate internship at the Centro
Médico Nacional del IMSS (IMSS National Medical
Center) from 1975-1976.
He is an active member of the Colegio Médico de Tijuana
(Tijuana Medical Association); Sociedad Médica del
Hospital General de Tijuana (Medical Society of Tijuana
General Hospital); Asociación Mexicana de Patólogos
(Mexican Association of Pathologists); and, the Consejo
de Médicos Anatomopatólogos (Board of Anatomical
Pathologists). Dr. Valenzuela Espinoza previously
served as President of the Colegio de Patólogos de Baja
California (Baja California Association of Pathologists).
Dr. Valenzuela Espinoza is a member of both the Budget
and Priority Setting Committees representing the México
Section.
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
(Please check our website at www.borderhealth.org or
www.saludfronteriza.org for updateed event information)
September 18
TCWF Conference on Border Health
Location: San Diego, CA
Info: CompassPoint Conference Planners,
(415) 541-9000 x316 or via e-mail at
events@compasspoint.org.
September 26-28
Border Governors Conference
Location: Puerto Peñasco, Sonora
Info: Robert Guerrero, (520) 770-3110,
guerrer@azdhs.gov
www.gobernadoresfronterizos.org