Mexican government gives $40k to local health program

The Mexican government has donated more than $40,000 to a health program that serves Yuma-area residents of Mexican nationality.

The program – Ventanilla de Salud or Health Window – offers blood pressure and glucose checks and other examinations, organizes public forums and campaigns to bring to light a variety of health topics, and offers counseling on health issues to individuals.

The Mexican Consulate in Yuma and Campesinos Sin Fronteras, a San Luis, Ariz.-based nonprofit organization, jointly conduct the program.

The program, established five years ago, broadened its reach in 2012 as it opened a permanent site in San Luis and sent health workers as far away as La Paz County, said Flor Redondo, programs director for Campesinos Sin Fronteras.

Also last year, it launched a campaign to promote early detection of breast cancer and provided individual attention to more than 15,000 people, including more than 5,500 who received health exams, she said.

And the contribution of $40,600, Redondo said, will allow the consulate and Campesinos to further expand and extend the program's services, she said.

Since those funds come from the Mexican government, she said, the program's services are provided without regard to people's immigration status.

“For us it has been an opportunity to get closer to the community and to establish bonds of collaboration with the consulate” to serve area residents.