Health Without Borders
El Paso, TX, 2004
The city of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico are experiencing critical health care issues as a result of population growth and economic disparities. Together, as the largest international port of entry, the metropolitan area of both cities has a population that exceeds 2.2 million. The population of El Paso is predominately Hispanic/Latino (78 percent of total population), relatively young (average age 26) and financially challenged (30 percent live below federal poverty guidelines). Additionally, El Paso has double-digit unemployment rates, and 37 percent of the citizens are uninsured. These factors make it difficult for many citizens to find adequate health care.
KTEP-FM and the Hispanic Health Disparities Center have worked to provide information to this vulnerable population about access to health care in the region. The project has enhanced the Hispanic Health Disparities Center's website as well as translated Centers for Disease Control data, making it applicable to the El Paso community and surrounding region. This information is now available to help community agencies and policymakers at all levels address the real and significant health disparities that confront Hispanic populations.
KTEP produced 12 documentary-style radio programs to educate the El Paso population about issues that directly impact the Hispanic community such as diabetes, childhood and adult obesity, hypertension, cancer and HIV/AIDS. The station also produced 12 hour-long call-in programs giving the community direct access to health care professionals.
The Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities. The center mentors health researchers through learning institutes, guided research studies and dissemination of new knowledge to both the scientific community and the regional population.
Awards:
KTEP Round Three
Outstanding Senior in Electronic Media for 2004 graduating class to Raquel Pinela for her work on the Sound Partners project
— selected by Communication Department faculty
$15,000 to support community students and promotora work at the Institute for Border Community Health Education
— Paso del Norte Health Foundation
$10,000 to support community clinics
— Anonymous Donor