Ventanilla de Salud
Ventanilla de Salud (VdS) is a strategy of the Government of Mexico implemented by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME). VdS offices, located in each Mexican consulate in the US, provide health education and connection to visitors of that consulate. Through regular health fairs, they further expand their reach to the entire Spanish-speaking community. Each office is operated by a local health-focused organization or agency.
VdS services are open to the entire community, including people who have moved from Mexico or other Spanish-speaking nations to the United States, and seek to facilitate access to health services and promote a culture of self-care.
MCN has collaborated with VdS nationally since its inception in 1994 and currently operates and serves as the fiscal agent at three VdS offices in Texas: Austin, Eagle Pass, and Del Rio.
In each of the three VdS offices, an MCN coordinator periodically organizes health fairs and community events, where people receive various services such as free vaccinations, preventive care, and screening exams in their language, offered by local health organizations.
What do Ventanillas de Salud do?
- Provide guidance on health care and disease prevention
- Provide information about low-cost health services, community resources, and social programs
- Establish partnerships with institutions, organizations, and universities to provide services within the consulate
- Organize health fairs for the wider community, offering preventive care and screenings through community collaborators and local health organizations
- Promote mental health care
Types of services provided
- Health Fairs
- Vaccinations
- Preventive Screenings
- Glucose test
- Cholesterol
- Blood pressure
- Eye exam
- Kidney, liver exams
- HIV/STDs
- Mammograms
- Gynecological exams
- Body mass index
- Referrals
- In-person workshops
- Mental health virtual presentations
- At-home COVID-19 test provision
Select each VdS location below for more information:
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Annual Women's Conference
This event brings together women from Latin America, Mexico, and the United States with leaders from the region to develop collaborative networks that strengthen the community, learn together, deepen engagement, and continue to build a healthy and strong communities. It is held annually in the month of November.
Binational Health Week
Binational Health Week is celebrated every year during the month of October. We provide free health services for the entire community. During that week, information is provided on health insurance, community resources, disease prevention tools, mental health, chronic diseases, and vaccinations, among many other services.
Bandana Project
The Bandana Project was launched in 2007 by Monica Ramirez and is led by Justice for Migrant Women. It is an international artistic activism project and advocacy campaign to raise awareness of the widespread sexual violence in the workplace suffered by rural women. It is a visible demonstration of MCN’s support for rural women and our commitment to ending this problem.
Map of Ventanilla de Salud locations
