THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING

BINATIONAL HEALTH WEEK

October 13-21, 2007

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WHEREAS, the Secretariat of Health and the Secretariat of Foreign Relations of the United Mexican States, the California State Department of Health Services, the Health Commission of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME), the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, and the University of California, have recognized the necessity of improving access to health services for (im)migrant workers and their families in the State of California; and

WHEREAS, over fifty percent of California’s new immigrants are people of Mexican and Central- American origin and ninety-one percent of California's agricultural workers were born in Mexico; and

WHEREAS, according to the United States Census Bureau, over thirty- two percent of the San Mateo County population is foreign born, of which over thirty-six percent are from Latin America; and

WHEREAS, Mexican and Latin American origin (im)migrants and their families have limited access to health care; and

WHEREAS, in October 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, the Health Initiative of the Americas (HIA), a program of the University of California Office of the President and partnering organizations convened the first six Binational Health Weeks, an unprecedented effort overseen by multi-agency task forces, which conducted health promotion activities involving over 500 community-based organizations from 42 California counties, 31 other U.S. states and 27 Mexican states; and

WHEREAS, Binational Health Week reflects coordinated efforts between California, Mexico, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala and Colombia, to improve the quality of life of (im)migrant families by expanding their access to health care, increasing their health insurance coverage, and reducing their unmet health needs; and

WHEREAS, the objective of Binational Health Week is to generate a dynamic dialogue between representatives from California, Mexico, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Colombia and the HIA vision is that “the health of California is the health of its immigrants"; and

WHEREAS, over 1,000 people participated in planning and implementing activities, and over 300,000 people received health care services during the 2006 Binational Health Week.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo hereby designates October 13 to 21, 2007 as Binational health week and calls on all the people of San Mateo county to join the people of Mexico and all Californians of Mexican, and Latin American origin in observing and participating in Binational Health Week.

Dated: October 4, 2007

SUPERVISORS:

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ROSE JACOBS GIBSON, PRESIDENT

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MARK CHURCH

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RICHARD S. GORDON

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JERRY HILL

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ADRIENNE J. TISSIER

Attest:

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Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors