Binational Health Week in Missouri:

Bringing Hope and Health to Our Community

Created in 2001, the Binational Health Week (BHW) is an annual weeklong series of health-promotion and health-education activities such as workshops, medical screenings and referrals. The goal is to improve the health and well-being of the underserved Hispanic/Latino population living in the United States and Canada.

Missouri

hosted its first

BHW activities

in Kansas City,

Missouri, in

2004.

The BHW events are coordinated by networks of local agencies, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and citizens that share the common bond of improving the healthcare needs of the most vulnerable people, especially those without medical coverage.

Local BHW councils are instrumental in planning and implementing BHW activities in their respective communities.

In 2008, more than 857 participants registered during BHW activities throughout Missouri.

Most…80.6% were born in Mexico

Most…54% were women

Most…82% preferred to speak Spanish

Most…69% did not have medical insurance

Most… 89.3% considered the services they received as “very helpful”