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County of Santa Clara kicks off 20th annual Binational Health Week

Health activities scheduled throughout October to benefit thousands of Latinos in Santa Clara County

Espanol

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – The 2024 Binational Health Week in Santa Clara County begins with a Health and Wellness event at Eastridge Mall in San José on October 5, 2024, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The event will offer free health information and resources, free health screenings, entertainment, opportunities for the community to connect with services, and a welcome ceremony from noon-12:45 p.m.

Binational Health Week is a multisector collaborative effort with the goal of raising awareness and addressing the unique health challenges faced by the Latino community. This year, in celebration of the 20th Annual Binational Health Week, County of Santa Clara Public Health Department joins with the Consulate General of Mexico in San José, dozens of community partners, and hundreds of volunteers, to continue addressing health disparities in the Latino community in the county.

“The Binational Health Week is a collaborative initiative between the Government of Mexico and the U.S. Government. In Santa Clara County, the Consulate General of Mexico in San José, the County Health Department, and partner organizations have joined efforts to provide services and information to the community during Binational Health Week. This initiative is key to promoting prevention and ensuring that our migrant community has access to essential medical services. The work is driven by a single goal: to overcome barriers and bring care and well-being to those who need it most, thus strengthening the quality of life in our communities,” said Alejandra Bologna Zubikarai, Consul General of Mexico in San José.

The Latino population in Santa Clara County has been growing steadily since 1980 and includes over 487,000 people. About a quarter of the county’s residents are Latino. While there have been significant improvements in some areas, such as fewer teen births, the Latino community still faces disproportionate health challenges, including mental illnesses, diabetes, and heart disease. In 2022, 19 percent of Latino adults reported experiencing psychological distress, compared to 17 percent of White adults, 9 percent of Asian adults, and 15 percent of all adults in the county. Additionally, Latinos represented more than four in ten diabetes-related emergency department visits in the county.

“Binational Health Week highlights the importance of working together and reminds us that we have much more work that needs to be done so that all communities, regardless of their ancestry or status, have equal access to reliable and safe healthcare,” said Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. “This is done by public-private partnerships at the local and international levels.”

“It is impossible to envision Santa Clara County without the vast contributions Latino families have made, both culturally and economically. However, Latinos in this County continue to confront exceptional health challenges, while struggling to obtain affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care,” County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas said. “I’m excited to announce that the results of our Latino Health Assessment will be released in December. This assessment, that I requested last year, is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to turn data into action. On this Binational Health Week, let us pledge our commitment to take decisive action when this critical report comes out.”

“Binational Health Week was created in 2001 to raise awareness of the unique health care challenges of Latinas and Latinos living in the United States and respond to those challenges. Here in Santa Clara County we collaborate with the Consulate of Mexico in San José, other local agencies, and our non-profit partners, to both address health inequities in the community and promote good health practices and prevention,” said Supervisor Cindy Chavez.

“We’re so excited to celebrate Binational Health Week 2024 with the community. For 20 years, the County has organized nearly 400 community events and provided more 25,000 health screenings as a part of Binational Health Week! This annual event has made such a positive significant impact for our families. The upcoming weeks will be a great opportunity for residents to get the latest COVID vaccine and flu shots, along with resources for their health and wellness,” said Supervisor Otto Lee.

Many Latino individuals face barriers that prevent or limit access to health care services, such as lack of health insurance, difficulties navigating the health care system, and lack of access to a physician with a shared cultural background or language. Nationwide, Latinos represent 20 percent of population but less than 7 percent of the country’s physicians identify as Latino.

Throughout the month of October, a series of events including health fairs, workshops and activities offering access to free health services aim to assist uninsured Latino individuals living and working in the county. This year's focus includes mental health and stress management; healthcare access, screenings, and preventive care; and nutrition.

“Despite historical trauma, racial discrimination, and structural inequities, the Latino community draws on a wealth of strengths that protect against the negative effects of adversity on their well-being, such as family and community cohesion and support. As part of the County of Santa Clara and the Public Health Department commitment to racial and health equity, we invest and participate in these efforts every year to empower and uplift the Latino community by expanding access to healthcare and advancing health outcomes,” said Rodrigo Garcia-Reyes, Partnerships Program Manager for the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department.

Under the leadership of the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors, the Latino Health Assessment, kicked off in 2023, aims to provide an analysis of demographic, recent health trends, and community voices, and support the development of a data-informed action plan to decrease health inequities among the Latino community. The assessment is set to be released December 2024.

Binational Health Week in Santa Clara County is a part of a larger effort begun in 2001 to serve the Latino community in the United States and Canada. Over time, it has expanded into one of the largest mobilization efforts in the Americas, focused on improving the health and well-being of underserved Latino populations. Initially a week-long event, Binational Health Week has grown into a month-long series of activities.

Last year, the County’s Binational Health Week partners collectively hosted more than 30 events that served over 15,392 participants; worked with 115 community partners; and provided over 1,162 health screenings, 167 flu shots, and 40 COVID vaccines.

Key upcoming events include:

Saturday, October 5, 2024
Binational Health Week Kickoff Event
Eastridge Mall
2200 Eastridge Loop, San José, CA 95122
10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Monday, October 7, 2024
Press Event 
Consulado General de México en San José 
302 Enzo Dr. #200, San José, CA 95138
10-11 a.m., with Resource Fair continuing until 1 p.m.

Monday, October 7, 2024
Binational Health Week Proclamation 
Board of Supervisors Chambers 
70 West Hedding St., San José, CA 95110
4-5 p.m.

Saturday, November 2, 2024
La Ofrenda Festival
Downtown Gilroy
1-7 p.m.
 

For a complete list of 2024 Santa Clara County Binational Health Week events and activities, visit sccBHW.org in English and sccSBS.org for Spanish.