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Initiative’s sign of support: Officials from Sonora back Americans’ medical effort

By Laura Ory
Herald/Review
Published/Last Modified on Sunday, Jun 08, 2008 - 04:00:50 pm MST

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DOUGLAS — An American organization providing health services to migrants in Mexico received the support of Sonora, Mexico, officials on Saturday.

The Naco Wellness Initiative, a 5-year-old nonprofit based in Naco and Bisbee, was applauded by Sonora state and consulate officials at the signing of a support agreement at the Mexican Consulate in Douglas Saturday.

Illegal immigrants are deported or returning to Mexican border towns in greater numbers this year, said Enrique Flores Lopez, director general of advocacy for international migrants for the state of Sonora.

That fact caused a need for the agreement and support of the Sonoran government, said Tom Carlson, president of the Naco Wellness Initiative.

Enrique Flores Lopez, left, director general for international migrants for the Mexican state of Sonora, and Tom Carlson, president of the Naco Wellness Initiative, sign an agreement between the two entities during a brief ceremony held at the Mexican Consulate on Saturday in Douglas. Mexican Counsul Oscar de la Torre Amezcua, right, looks on. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)

“We’re seeing people flow through there in large numbers,” Carlson said.

About 34 percent of all deportations to Mexico are within Sonora, Mexico, said Gustavo Morales Ciron, consul of protection.

When they return it’s often in poor condition, said Oscar Antonio de la Torre, Mexican Consul in Douglas.

“They’re tired, hungry and angry, too,” de la Torre said.

It’s their hope to see migrants treated humanely.

“It is a huge honor to be a witness to the work that you do,” he said.

With the help of doctors, nurses and other volunteers from across Arizona, the Naco Wellness Initiative offers health services, health education and other services.

Their clinics in Naco and Agua Prieta, Mexico, offer screenings for osteoporosis, high cholesterol, diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure and more. About 50 to 60 people come in for services during a typical day at the clinic.

The wellness initiative also has provided care to Americans in Naco, Ariz.

In Negates, migrants are aided by Human Borders, the Good Samaritans, churches and other non profit organizations, with which the state of Sonora also has made agreements, Lopez said.

The success of those partnerships makes the Rev. Seth Polley, vice president of the Naco Wellness Initiative and border missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, confident the agreement will create a successful partnership between the Naco Wellness Initiative and Mexican government.

“It strengthens our efforts,” Polley said. “We have a better foot to stand on now.”

Although U.S. immigration reform is still a pressing issue, Lopez hopes the U.S. and Mexico governments can solve the issues for the sake of suffering migrant populations.

“We are neighbors and we need to live together,” Lopez said.

HERALD/REVIEW reporter Laura Ory can be reached at 515-4683 or by e-mail at laura.ory@svherald.com.

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Went for a Filling wrote on Jun 16, 2008 12:44 AM:

" I went to Naco and not only got a filling in my tooth, got a filling in my gas tank. I also bought tacos and tortillas with the left over money. Shopping in Naco from now on. Viva el Peso. "

st sierravistan wrote on Jun 13, 2008 3:55 PM:

" bye bye Amanda. The reason they will not work on them is because they do not want to have to "attempt" to correct such inferior work and end up with the patient being able to sue them becasue there is no rememdy...afterall, they cannot sue the mexican dentist. "

Amanda wrote on Jun 13, 2008 7:08 AM:

" What kind of dentist would refuse to work on someone who had inferior work done previously. Only in America, I'm moving to England :O) "

st sierravistan wrote on Jun 11, 2008 7:19 PM:

" and more regarding "south-of-the-border dental work...if there is a problem later, most American dentists refuse to work on someone with inferior work previously done...one must remember, you do get what you pay for. "

Cheyenne wrote on Jun 10, 2008 11:47 PM:

" Yes Tex Mex, I went to mexico for cheap dental work. That is where I learned "Cheap work isnt good and good work isnt cheap". My dentist is in SV now. "

Brash Bob wrote on Jun 10, 2008 2:16 AM:

" If this is the same group, my wife went to an excellent PA that worked for a DR in SV and became involved in a mobile health care system. My wife followed the PA for treatment, until she was handed a stack of forms printed in Spanish only and told to fill them out. No forms were in English, so that might have had a little to do with the lack of success in attracting American patients in the USA. "

Shy Ann wrote on Jun 10, 2008 2:12 AM:

" Tex, how many gringos are jumping illegally across the border to go and Pay for their dental treatment? While the price may be somewhat lower, I haven't heard of that work being done for Free by the good dentists over there. Small difference I would think! "

Tex Mex wrote on Jun 9, 2008 9:39 PM:

" And how many of you folks cross the border to pay for CHEAP dental care? Hmmmm.... "

Cheyenne M. wrote on Jun 9, 2008 9:30 AM:

" A little history: the Naco Wellness Initiative started on the American side of the border with doctors and nurses willing and ready to offer their services for free to Americans. At the last few clinics hardly anyone came: 12 people, then 9 people, then 4. That's when the decision was made to go into Mexico where people wanted to be helped. "

Speedy Gonzales wrote on Jun 8, 2008 11:18 PM:

" Si, we are tired and angry too. I see mexico has a whole dept set up for illegals. Yes, people in Naco and AP mexico go there. Saves them gas money. But that's right! It is a "certain group" who want to push their personal agenda's upon the citizens of the USA. Maybe it's time to push back? Hard. "

Borderwoman wrote on Jun 8, 2008 6:29 PM:

" Kudos to the Naco Wellness Initiative! This article did not make it clear that many of the people receiving assistance from this project live in Naco or AP and are not returned migrants.
I believe we all need to assist one another, no matter which side of a wall we happen to live on. Again, kudos for a great program. It is a humane, kind thing to do. "

Tex Mex wrote on Jun 8, 2008 6:08 PM:

" Have you people read the article? or can you read? Or I forget is that "certain group" of people writing. "

And by the way... wrote on Jun 8, 2008 5:40 PM:

" This POOR country to our south who cannot afford to provide medical care for it's people EXPORT 25% of the oil that the US is importing right now at $135 a barrel!!! Give me a break, of course they want us idiots to give them free medical care! WAKE UP AMERICA!!!! "

To When Three wrote on Jun 8, 2008 5:39 PM:

" Does Jesus condone breaking laws? I don't think so. Does Jesus condone raping little girls? I seriously don't think so. The US cannot take on all the world's problems--we have enough of our own. Would you ignore your own children to take care of your neighbors? And you can tell yourself that the needy in SV have big screens so they don't need medical, that is a lie to sooth your conscience, not the truth. "

When_three_agree wrote on Jun 8, 2008 2:53 PM:

" I take it you all are not christian people. Yes we do have many poor people in this country, but they do get free medical care, food stamps etc. There are middle class who don't have medical care but choose to have big screen, tv's drive newer cars etc. The reverend does not look at passports, he is doing the job he feels christ would want him to do. Just as some doctors, pastors aid people in prison.
Grow a heart! "

It is sad wrote on Jun 8, 2008 10:19 AM:

" the day when the headline is to pat on the back a group of people who are aiding the breaking of laws in our country, and to add insult to injury, the providing of free medical care to Mexico, when we have plenty of people right here in SV who don't have medical care and can't afford it. What is wrong people? Take care of our own, not the people who are crossing. I wonder how many of the rapists we have caught lately have you assisted? "

Ray wrote on Jun 8, 2008 8:47 AM:

" Wow....I'm pretty sure there are many American citizens with the mentioned diseases that have no insurance. Is there someplace similar that they can go for health care? I have not seen a story on them.... "

Pat wrote on Jun 8, 2008 6:49 AM:

" There are numerous Americans with no medical care in the US and yet we can find money to give illegals medical treatment? So they can feel like they are being treated humanely... Take care of the home front before worrying about a bunch of illegals being sent back where they came from. You better believe the Mexican government loves the program... it saves them having to deny aid to their own people. "

Cheyenne wrote on Jun 8, 2008 6:23 AM:

" LAURA ORY they are ILLEGAL migrants. Enrique Flores you are the director for the illegals, direct your people back to mexico. That way the mexican government can take care of them, they wont suffer. We need to live together? No, I dont think so, you live in your country and I'll live in mine. Tom Carlson, Jen Allen, Seth Polley and associates all you are doing is whipping up anger in the USA. You advocate the breaking of our laws. You care so much for foreign nationals show your SOLIDARITY! move to mexico. "

Positive wrote on Jun 8, 2008 6:12 AM:

" I am sure the mexicans like the agreement where they get free health care from the US, in mexico. The illegals already get loads of free health care in the US. "

don wrote on Jun 8, 2008 6:05 AM:

" I always wondered about this program. why doctors go to mexico to help, but i never understood why they have to go to mexico. there are alot of people in this country that are just as poor and just as hurting. fact of the matter is some of us have been destroyed by doctors "