California Inaugural Event: 2004 Binational Health Week.

WHAT:       The California-Mexico Health Initiative (CMHI), in
            cooperation with over a thousand agencies, will convene
            the FOURTH Binational Health Week (BHW) to conduct
            health-promotion activities for Latinos and Mexican
            immigrants and migrants and their families. This year,
            Binational Health Week expands from California to 17 other
            U.S. states with the participation of the Institute for
            Mexicans Abroad (IME) and the U.S.-Mexico Border Health
            Commission.

            In California, the 2004 BHW will commence with a morning
            press conference followed by a noon reception, both to be
            held at the Mexican Consulate General of Los Angeles.

            During these two events, speakers and representatives will
            summarize anticipated Binational Health Week outcomes in
            26 California counties to members of the international,
            national, and regional press. Collaborative agreements
            between California and Mexico will be signed and
            California county resolutions pertaining to Binational
            Health Week will be unveiled. Key stakeholders from both
            countries will address health challenges facing Mexican
            migrants/immigrants and explore binational working
            opportunities to improve the health and quality of life
            for this population. To commemorate BHW 2004, a mural will
            be unveiled.

WHO:        Participants will include California elected officials,
            representatives from leading Latino organizations, IME
            Health Commission advisors, and local BHW organizers. In
            addition, a Mexican delegation comprised of
            representatives from the Mexican Secretariats of Foreign
            Affairs (SRE) and Secretariat of Health (SSA), as well as
            other key institutions, will be present.

WHEN:       The California inaugural event will take place on
            October 13 with a press conference at 10 a.m. followed by
            a tour of health fair activities at the consulate and a
            reception.

WHERE:      The event will be held at the Mexican Consulate General
            in Los Angeles

BACKGROUND: Binational Health Week is a series of health-promotion and
            health-education activities organized by Mexico's
            Secretariat of Health and Secretariat of Foreign Affairs,
            in collaboration with the Health Commission of the
            Institute for Mexicans Abroad (Instituto de los Mexicanos
            en el Exterior or IME), the California Department of
            Health Services, the University of California, the
            California-Mexico Health Initiative (CMHI), the United
            States-Mexico Border Health Commission, The California
            Endowment, and co-sponsored by federal and state agencies
            and nongovernmental organizations throughout select U.S.
            and Mexican states.