Binational Health Week (BHW) is the largest mobilization efforts in the Americas to improve the health and well-being of the underserved Latino population living in the United States and Canada. During BHW, federal, state and local government agencies, community-based organizations and thousands of volunteers come together in the month of October to conduct a series of health promotion and health education activities including workshops, insurance referrals, vaccinations and medical screenings.

BHW fosters community solidarity by bringing together existing resources and thousands of volunteers working together for a common goal. The events are coordinated by the collaboration among community and government agencies from the U.S., Mexico and other Latin American countries with the purpose of reaching out to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people, especially those without medical coverage. This year the main health topics that will be adressed are HIV/AIDs, Diabetes, Occupational Health, Influenza, and Access to Health Insurance.

BHW main partners include the Secretariats of Health and Foreign Affairs of Mexico, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, as well as the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, the Mexican Social Security Institute, the National Secretariat for Migrants in Ecuador, the Colombia Nos Une Program, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, several Departments of Public Health, the Council of Mexican Federations in North America, and the Health Initiative of the Americas, a program of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health.

Binational Policy Forum on Migration and Global HealthInaugural Event for Binational Health WeekSan Luis Potosi, Mexico, October 5-6, 2014The annual policy forum examines and promotes immigrant health issues as a policy priority in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Held every October during Binational Health Week, the forum presents the opportunity for policy-makers, researchers, students, and public health workers to share recent research, propose policy recommendations, and develop bilateral working strategies.

The policy forum is the launching event of Binational Health Week, an annual weeklong series of health promotion and health education activities that include workshops, insurance referrals, and medical screenings. This event has become one of the largest mobilization efforts of government agencies, community-based organizations and volunteers in North America to improve the health and wellbeing of underserved Latinos living in the United States.

Last year, the events took place from October 1-21, 2013. An estimated 3,373 activities were held benefiting 381,175 people. The organization of the events involved the participation of 8,684 agencies which were led by 134 consulates working together with 178 local planning committees. Also, several national campaigns were implemented with the aim of increasing the Latino population’s awareness: The Health Care Reform in the U.S and Access to Health Care; Chronic Diseases including Obesity and Diabetes; Infectious Diseases including HIV and Tuberculosis; Occupational Health and Safety; and Mental Health.