[Editor’s Note: It’s been a very busy month, so far! We don’t want to leave behind the stellar work of Leslie Diaz, MSSW, Health Network Associate at the Ventanilla de Salud here in Austin for Binational Health Week. Ventanilla de Salud is a health outreach program within the Mexican Consulate in cities around the country. Binational Health Week, which aims to connect local underserved Latino communities with resources to improve their health and well-being, is celebrated throughout the country every October. Many Ventanilla offices continue to celebrate throughout October. Leslie works at the Ventanilla to link locals with health services and enroll those who are migrating into Health Network. Here’s an update on this year’s events from Leslie.]
The Kick Off Fiesta to send the Ventanilla de Salud office into Binational Health month with a bang was filled with vendors the entire day of the 29th of September, from 9am - 7pm. Our partners really pulled out all the stops by coming in shifts throughout the day to ensure that all attending the event would have screenings available. We're talking a blood bank, adult immunizations, dental screenings, blood pressure and glucose readings, and skin cancer, vision, and hearing screenings all day!
This event was generously sponsored by Superior HealthPlan [2] and Dell Children’s Health [3]. The Consul General Carlos Guitérrez González was on hand to give great thanks to the participating community partners in our new offices to which we moved just last month. Earlier, he was in the midst of the activities of the Binational Health Week XVII [4] (click this [5] for a lovely video provided by the Cine Joven Studios [6]) to help advertise the good work of local partners.
This year’s promotional theme of Binational Health Week XVII had a planet-friendly edge to it with the additional plate logo of TTPP (Trae Tu Propio Plato )/ BYOP (Bring Your Own Plate) for all of those joining in for the evening dinner provided by Mr. Natural [7] to be conscious about bringing their own dishware to cut down on trash. With a mild initial reception we loved having to explain the concept numerous amounts of time because we are used to being thought leaders at MCN!
Fire fighters of Austin gave their first of have two CPR courses scheduled in October that were made completely free for attendees.
Each week is peppered with an assortment of FREE educational opportunities to help keep immigrant families living in the greater Austin area armed and ready to take care of deal with their health! On Mondays, classes of Nutrition are provided by the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Program [8] and support groups are offered by Gabriela Nuñez [9]. Thursday afternoons haves a class on Diabetes given by the Community Health Workers of El Buen Samaritano [10].
Additionally, MCN will be providing hour-and-a-half long classes on cancer basics, prevention, and detection through the American Cancer Society this month as well! This week we launched a Zumba-thon with new partners of Corazon Latino [11] and special guests Prevent Blindness Texas [12] will help wrap up the cooling October weekends.
Find your nearest Ventanilla de Salud to connect your clinic with an office that promotes health education in your area!
Find your Ventanilla de Salud and learn more about Binational Health Week at www.ventanillas.org [13].
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