The "Los Dos Laredos" Binational Health Council was established to address health and environmental issues in Laredo, TX, Nuevo Laredo, Tamps. and their surrounding areas. A primary priority for the Binational Council is to focus on communication, simultaneous disease control and technical support for and between the health institutions from both countries. The council meets monthly, alternating locations between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo to facilitate attendance by members from both cities.

The cities join forces through work on the Neural Tube Defect Binational Program, TB Binational Project, rabies control, vector control, and infectious disease control, among others.

The co-presidents are Dr. Hector Gonzalez from the City of Laredo Health Department and Dr. Bernardo Ramirez Mante from the Secretaria de Salud of Nuevo Laredo, Tamps., Jurisdicción Sanitaria No. V.

The Los Dos Laredos Bi-National Council meets every month alternating between Laredo Texas and Nuevo Laredo Tamaulipas.  In addition, for the last two years Sabinas and Monterrey Nueva Leon has been part of the Los Dos Laredos and therefore will be requesting in the future to change our name to Los Dos Laredos/Nuevo Leon. Dr. Luis Campbell who leads the Secretaria de Salud is our bi-national counterpart and liaison to the Nuevo Laredo Tamaulipas portion of our coalition.

Los Dos Laredos/ Nuevo Leion bi-national Health Council addresses challenging public health threats from Los Dos Laredos and northern region of Nuevo Leon primarily Sabinas, Anahuac and Monterrey.  Over 20 years prioritize public health care issues unique to each area.

Standing Bi-National Emergencies:

  • Vector Control Dengue
  • Rabies
  • Maternal/Child Health
  • Adolescent Health
  • Substance Abuse /Mental Health

5 Permanent Sub-committees:

  • HIV/AIDS
  • EWIDS
  • Nutrition/Obesity
  • Tuberculosis
  • Environmental Health

A work plan is made to assure that the 5 standing committees always provide continuous work effort to assure we address services.

HIV/AIDS- meet every month alternating between Sabinas, NL, Laredo and Monterrey.  HIV/AIDS issued 1000 rapid tests targeting truck drivers as well as bi-national efforts on promotion for prevention to test on the bridge and other high risk areas.  Special support was provided by the students form the Autonoma of Nuevo Leon.

Nutritional/ Obesity and Diabetes Prevention- started Bienestar an evidence based school based health program in Laredo through partnership with the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio.  Bienstar an evidenced based health program in Laredo through partnership with UTHSCCSA under the direction of Dr. Roberto Trevino, has shown that 30% of the third graders in Laredo are overweight and 4% have abnormal blood glucose levels.  Education, exercise and nutrition efforts were started in schools and in Tamaulipas it was introduced as Crece Sano and Crece Sano Bienestar.

Tuberculosis- continued surveillance, early detection and treatment of TB- working Binational since 1993.  Excellence in continued surveillance, early detection and treatment assistance is required for the expeditious transport  of medication and supplies which is now a problem with the new requirements for the transport.

EWIDS- success in sharing incidence, Morbidity and Mortality information with our bi-national counterparts.  EWIDS is successful in sharing morbidity and mortality information and needs to be enhanced to include all hazards and more timely exchange of surveillance data.

Environmental Health- efforts were initiated with monthly updates enhanced surveillance in Laredo and Nuevo Leon, pollution, water sampling ect.  Efforts were initiated with monthly updates, enhanced surveillance in Laredo and Nuevo Leon a chemical and poisoning physician training web based module was created through an EPA Border 2012 project which we proposed to expand as a routine extension to support providers in their offices.  In addition pollution prevention promotion was done and water sampling through local schools to create more awareness among students.

For more information call Gloria Pena, RN and Waldo Lopez, RS, MPH at (956)795-4900.
       
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