Health and Living Conditions

Border cities are generally very poor, especially those border cities closest to the maquiladoras. The maquilas pay very low wages and their workers struggle to buy necessities such as food and clothing. Few people have the resources to either see a doctor or pay for medications. This leads to many health problems. One of the more shocking health problems is anencephaly, "a birth defect in which the infant's brain fails to develop," (injuryboard.com 2002). In 1995, "Six babies were born with no brains or only partial brains in a four-month period," (Kimsey 1995). There was no released information as to the cause of the rare birth defects. Babies born without brains or with partial brains do not live long, if at all. Researchers speculate that the cause of the birth defect may be due to pollution and the high concentrations of chemicals used in maquilas and factories along the border (injuryboard.com 2002). Nervous system problems, especially stomach problems, are also common in the poor border cities. Researchers note the increasing numbers in gastrointestinal disease as a result of poor water quality and lack of availability. Other health problems include Hepatitis A, tuberculosis, dengue fever, cholera, asthma, and diabetes. Many of these diseases are due, in part, to the low numbers of immunizations at the border.

Dengue fever

An article published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report stated that, "On August 25, 1995, public health authorities in Mexico notified the Texas Department of Health (TDH) of an ongoing outbreak of dengue fever in the state of Tamaulipas, which borders south Texas," (1996). Characteristics of the acute disease, spread through mosquito bites include fever, headache, rash, nausea, vomiting, severe muscle aches, chills, diarrhea, and many other symptoms that may last for weeks. The article also stated that, "During July-December 1995, health authorities in Tamaulipas…reported 4758 suspected cases of dengue to health authorities in Mexico," (MMWR 1996). Other cities affected were Reynosa, Tampico, and Matamoros. In Reynosa, 70% of the cases occurred in the age group 15-44 with 50% occurring in females, (MMWR 1996). The threat of dengue fever has since subsided since the peak of outbreaks in 1995. However, there are still outbreaks, as were reported in 1996, and it is still a concern today.

Binational Commission on Border Health

In 1993, legislators from the United States addressed their growing concerns about the spread of diseases such as Hepatitis and cholera to the United States from Mexico. Their idea to curb this, on both sides of the border, was to set up a "binational commission on border health." Senator Jeff Bingaman from New Mexico said, "the need for a binational commission to conduct research on border health hazards and coordinate existing public health efforts is needed now more than ever" (Nation's Health 1993). He also stated that cities bordering the U.S. were, "'seriously degraded by water and air pollution from unregulated industries, widespread lack of sanitation facilities, toxic waste, and other ground contaminants'" (Nation's Health 1993). Bingaman, along with Representative Ronald Coleman of Texas, wanted to get the commission started that year.

Diabetes

Type II diabetes is the result of an inactive lifestyle and obesity, and is common in adults over the age of 40, although children are increasingly becoming affected. It is not the same as the insulin-dependent Type I diabetes that most people are familiar with. It is a rising issue on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. According to an article published by Nation's Health, "Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death for Americans living along the border and the third leading cause of death for Mexicans living on Mexico's side of the border, according to CDC data" (2001). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, the Pan-American Health Organization, and other health organizations from the United States and Mexico set the 5-year Collaborative U.S.-Mexico Border Diabetes Prevention and Control Project in response to the high incidence of the disease. The article mentions the fact that, "It is estimated that nearly 30 percent of residents along the U.S.-Mexico border have diabetes and that one-third of the sufferers are unaware that they have the disease" (Nation's Health 2001).

Asthma

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system that affects the lungs and bronchial tubes. It usually occurs early, in childhood or early teens. According to WebMD, "It is the most common long-term (chronic) childhood disease," (website 2002). An estimated 15 million Americans alone are affected by the disease, which is caused by "triggers," certain factors that onset asthma. People can, "Have asthma symptoms when they are around irritants they breathe in, such as cigarette smoke or air pollution. Have asthma symptoms when they are around chemicals or other substances at work (occupational asthma)," (www.webmd.com 2002). On the border, many children live with their parents next to the maquila factories that produce air, water, and chemical pollution. Like WebMD mentions, the EPA website notes, "According to a study by English, et al., high childhood asthma rates are likely due to a worsening of air quality conditions produced by increased pollutant burdens on the local airshed," (EPA/ORSEARTH website 2002).

Living Conditions

As stated above, the poor people of Mexico who are employed by the maquilas live close to them for convenience and for lack of another choice. Even though these are cities, many of the areas around the maquilas resemble shantytowns. People live in "houses" made out of scrap cardboard, wood, and other materials that are scattered close by. There is generally no electricity or running water, and an efficient sewage system is not common. In fact, if electricity is found, it is usually pirated from main lines. The water is delivered from a truck that comes by perhaps once or twice a week. Water is an essential commodity in the border towns, especially since the people live in arid desert conditions. Makeshift reservoirs including discarded oil and gasoline barrels, old bathtubs, pots, pans, and plastic barrels are used to store the limited supply of water. In the video segment "Not a Drop to Drink" from the PBS documentary The Border, a family spoke of how crucial the water supply is, stating how the husband meticulously scrubs his water barrels with bleach to keep the water clean. They mention how people have to guard their water or people may come and take it from you, a sign of how desperate conditions are in the border cities. A woman, the wife of the man who scrubs the barrels, also tells the film crew how people had been sick several times with stomach irritation she attributes the water. She said that they did not boil the water properly and for the correct length of time, and they also did not take care of the water containers. Even though there are rivers in these areas, the water is no longer clean enough to bathe in or drink. They have become polluted with chemicals and industrial waste. The maquila owners are to provide the infrastructure for their plants. Many send a bus to the employee shantytowns, some of the employees riding for over an hour just to get to the maquila. The hours are long, some work 10-12 hour shifts, and the pay is less than $40/day in many factories. Some females have been victims of sexual harassment and abuse, employees have been exposed to hazardous chemicals without proper protective gear, and several have been wounded in the fast-moving machinery. Speed, efficiency, and low costs are emphasized in every way. There have been several programs, such as the ones stated above, that have been established to help the border city situations. "In 1983, the Federal governments of the U.S. and Mexico signed the La Paz Agreement for the protection, improvement and conservation of the environment on the U.S.-Mexico border," (EPA/ORSEARTH website 2002). These programs have either not been successful or have been replaced. The 1983 La Paz Agreement led to the Integrated Border Environmental Plan (IBEP) in 1992, and the Border XXI Program in 1996. Marta Ojeda, a former maquila worker, established the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras and is that organization's Executive Director. She was upset by the treatment of the maquila workers, having witnessed several pregnant women exposed to chemicals that caused anencephaly in their children. Today, the organization is over 13 years old and striving to change the working conditions in the maquilas.