Binational Health Week (BHW) has become one of the largest mobilization efforts in the Americas to improve the health and well-being of underserved immigrants and migrants of Latin American origin living in the United States, and Canada. It encompasses an annual weeklong series of health promotion and health education activities that include workshops, insurance referrals, and medical screenings. BHW events emerge from networks forged among agencies and organizations working on migrant health issues and, in turn, foster ongoing collaboration. Main partners include the Secretariats of Health and of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Colombia, the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, the Mexican Social Security Institute, California’s Department of Public Health, The California Endowment, the California HealthCare Foundation, the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, and the Health Initiative of the Americas, a program of the University of California at Berkeley, School of Public Health. BHW is intended as a first step in a larger program of cooperation amongst North American and Central American countries to improve the health and well being of immigrant workers and their families.

Binational Health Week 2008
This year, BHW will take place October 6-15, 2008 in 40 states in the U.S. and 3 provinces in Canada, with the participation of the consular networks of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Also, the Mexican states with high rates of migration will be implementing activities. During Binational Health Week, a national campaign will take place to promote awareness among the Latino community on the topics of Obesity and Diabetes, HIV/ AIDS, Autism, and Emergency Preparedness.

Binational Health Week 2007 Results
The Seventh Annual BHW took place October 13-21, 2007 and witnessed the largest participation since its inception in 2001.

• An estimated 301,661 people participated in 3,941 activities
• 6,586 agencies and 15,497 volunteers participated in the organization of the activities
• 125 taskforces supported by the consulate networks of 4 countries: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Colombia.