Binational Health Week brings health awareness to underserved communities

Binational Health Week is a nationwide effort to bring healthcare services to hard to reach communities.

This week Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District ( PMHD ), is promoting healthcare in underserved Latino communities in the Imperial Valley and in Mexicali.

“Look around the room, look from side to side, right now 50% of you either have heart disease or will have it in your lifetime,” said Dr. Richard Jacoby, Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District Cardiologist.

Local health officials highlighted some of the diseases prevalent in the Latino community.

“Diabetes is pretty common, particularly in the Hispanic population and obesity,” said Jacoby.

PMHD is making it a priority this month to educate the community about health services available in the valley.

” Not everyone has healthcare insurance. Not everyone knows where to obtain healthcare services, ” said Eduardo Garcia, California Assembly Member.

Pioneers is working with the Mexican Consulate in Calexico and Mexicali’s public health department to improve healthcare on both sides of the border.

“There is a memorandum of understanding with Mexicali and the public health department over there to really focus on specific type of diseases to make sure what is happening here and what happens there is shared information and try to prevent that from spreading,” said Garcia.

“Migration generates different health problems that represent a challenge but also an opportunity to work together in our communities,” said Jose Manuel Reyes, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Medical Faculty Director.

PMHD will be holding health events and health screenings throughout the month of October.

Copyright 2018 KYMA