The County of Santa Clara is set to launch its 20th installment of Binational Health Week with a kickoff shindig at Eastridge Mall in San José on Saturday. According to the County of Santa Clara news post, the public can expect free health screenings, resources, and a bit of entertainment from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Noteworthy, amid the festivities, will be a welcome ceremony slated for the noon hour.
For two decades, Binational Health Week has been paramount in tackling the Latino community's health disparities in Santa Clara County. To truly up the ante, the County teams up with the Consulate General of Mexico in San José and throws hundreds of volunteers into the mix for good measure. This year's theme is laser-focused on mental health, healthcare access, and nutrition. Alejandra Bologna Zubikarai, Consul General of Mexico in San José, highlighted the "collaborative initiative" between Mexico and the U.S. and the shared mission "to promoting prevention and ensuring that our migrant community has access to essential medical services," as quoted in the County of Santa Clara news release.
Supervisor Otto Lee chimed in, too, sharing his excitement about the event. According to the County of Santa Clara, "This annual event has made such a positive significant impact for our families." And rightfully so, as Binational Health Week has evolved into a mammoth effort since its 2001 inception, now encompassing a full month of events and outreach aimed at dynamically elevating healthcare access and practices for the Latino community.