Date: March 28, 2003
Contact: Gene Rose 303-856-1518 / Janis Borton 303-856-1354
Top U.S. Health Officials To Discuss Chronic
Disease Prevention In US-Mexico Border Region
SAN DIEGO - Developing solutions to common chronic disease problems in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and their six bordering Mexican states will be the focus of policymakers and health officials in San Diego, April 4-7.
The U.S. Surgeon General and a top official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will speak at this unique meeting.
The U.S.-Mexico Border States Health Promotion Policy Institute, sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, will bring together key policymakers and health officials from both countries to develop strategies to prevent chronic disease in the border region.
They will explore policy options to address diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer, as well as the relationships between these illnesses and obesity, nutrition, physical activity and tobacco. Chronic diseases are a costly, yet preventable, problem in America. Experts believe they are an important issue at a time when all 50 states are looking for ways to meet a combined $26 billion budget shortfall this fiscal year.
Two key sessions will be of particular importance to health reporters:
- U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona
will speak on Friday, April 4 from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Carmona will suggest regional approaches and federal and state initiatives that support chronic disease prevention.
- Dr. Jim Marks, director of the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
, will speak on Friday from 2:15 p.m. until 3 p.m. He will discuss the prevalence and costs of chronic diseases in the border region and prevention strategies other states are considering.
The meeting takes place at the Paradise Point Resort, 1404 Vacation Road in San Diego. Health officials and state legislators from the United States will be meeting with their counterparts of the Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.
Reporters wishing to cover these events must pre-register by calling Gene Rose or Nicole Casal at (303) 364-7700 by noon on Thursday, April 3.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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For more information contact:
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Gene Rose
NCSL Public Affairs Director
(303) 364-7700
fax: (303) 364-7800
gene.rose@ncsl.org
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Bill Wyatt
Public Affairs Manager
NCSL Washington, DC Office
(202) 624-8667
fax: (202) 737-1069
william.wyatt@ncsl.org |
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