The Challenge of Chronic Diseases along the U.S.-Mexico Border

The 11.8 million people living on both sides of the US-Mexico border share striking similarities in the health problems they face. In recent years, migration from rural to urban environments, combined with poor urban planning, has dramatically altered the lifestyle of these border populations. Chronic, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and liver disease are now the leading cause of death in the area.

The costs incurred by a sharp rise in chronic disease are placing an increasing burden on the public healthcare systems on both sides of the border.  The rising rate of chronic disease leads to continued increases in health insurance premiums for the region’s employers and increases the rate of employee turnover, causing considerable human suffering and threatening the economic competitiveness of the entire region.

Please join the CSIS Americas Program and Global Health Policy Center, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce at a half-day event to examine the unique health challenges posed in the US-Mexico border region and to discuss innovative options for addressing these challenges through educational outreach, workplace wellness programs, and bi-national and cross-sectoral partnerships.

An agenda is posted online.