In representation of APHA Executive Director Dr. Georges Benjamin, I participated in the Governing Council of the USMBHA/AFMES Annual Meeting, June 4, 2009. This meeting reflected a very well-organized and well-functioning volunteer organization. Members represent the 14 bi-national health councils from the many areas of concentrated cross-border populations and activities. Discussion covered the many roles of the organization, the need to establish development and functional goals, and other administrative and technical issues. There is active strategic planning ongoing, including internal structure and function, and approaches to collaboration with other organizations as well as with the government, bilateral and multilateral partners with interests on each and on both sides of the border.

Dr. Fernando González, executive director, reported on the existing international collaborations of his organization, as well as his meeting with Dr. Georges Benjamin. He noted Dr. Benjamin’s invitations to attend the next APHA Annual Meeting and to be a Member Organization of APHA.  USMBHA/AFMES President Dr. Gloria Doria noted that they are partnering with the Mexican Public Health Association and welcome further work with APHA.

I made a presentation giving emphasis to the possibility of working more closely with the four border state APHA-affiliate organizations and the possibility of working more closely with the International Health Section.

I ran into several colleagues, one of whom is an APHA member (Dr. Sam Notzon, NCHS) and who is active with the US/Mexican Border Health activities. He noted that several members of the Border Commission are APHA members, and shared the following:

Border-linked activities cover an area of about 2,000 miles, four states, from Brownsville to San Diego, and a population of about 14 million. The population tends to be concentrated in urban areas, with about a third of the U.S. side being located in San Diego. Maternal and infant mortality are much higher on the Mexico side of the border, as are the incidence of infectious and chronic diseases. Some of the primary issues include asthma, obesity and related diseases such as diabetes, mental health, STIs and TB. The Association was originally formed with the support of PAHO/WHO and initially addressed issues caused by the large military presence in El Paso, with an interest in reducing sexually transmitted disease. Over time the variety of interests increased, and PAHO/WHO maintained its office in El Paso and supported the organization and its Annual Meeting. Recently, unrelated to the importance of these activities, PAHO/WHO has reduced its direct support for this Association and the USMBHA/AFMES board and executives are now dedicated to active development as a fully free-standing, independent NGO.

The Executive Board noted its appreciation that APHA had sent the chair of the International Health Section to represent them at this meeting and accepted this as a reflection of high interest on the part of APHA. Several Board members in attendance commented on their past participation in APHA and previous Annual Meetings.  A vote was held, with a unanimous positive confirmation of a motion calling for Dr. González to proceed immediately to develop an MOU with the APHA Executive Office.

--Miriam H Labbok, MD, MPH, Telephone: (919) 966-0928; Fax: (919) 966-0458; E-mail: labbok@unc.edu