The U.S.-Mexico border area stretches from California to Texas with an estimated 11 million people. Frequent binational movement presents challenges to health and environmental well-being. Raw sewage and toxic waste contaminate rivers and land, air pollution exceeds Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Nearly half a million people live in colonias-unincorporated areas along the border lacking proper sewage disposal, running water, paved roads, and electricity, putting people at risk for environmental hazard exposures. About 30% of all U.S. farmworkers, and 70% of migrant U.S. farmworkers, cross the U.S. - Mexico border annually, to work and visit family. Fifty-five percent of all U.S. farmworkers are immigrants from Mexico.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the EPA have joined efforts to address environmental health issues in the U.S.-Mexico border area. In 1999, both agencies put forth a Request for Proposal to demonstrate methods regarding improved overall evaluation and management of environmental hazard exposures through training activities for multidiscipline primary care clinicians and lay health workers in border communities. Special emphasis includes the effects of exposures on children and integrating lay health worker strategies with clinician efforts.
In September 1999, the Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc. was awarded a contract by HRSA/EPA and began a binational community-based project for environmental health education to health professionals and community residents. The project addresses accurate and early medical diagnosis on pesticide exposures, cultural appropriate approaches to educate community residents, training farmworkers and colonia residents to function as promotores de salud (lay health educators).
Learning Objectives: Describe sources of enviornmental hazard exposures in the U.S.-Mexico border area. Discuss strategies to create a community-based, culturally sensitive education program for immigrants & farmworkers in the U.S.-Mexico border area Articulate advantages of integrating efforts of lay health workers and health professionals
Keywords: Latinos, Pesticide Exposure
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.