by Kelly Simmons and Ana Vinas
JUAREZ AIDS CASES
The number of new AIDS cases reported in 1995 in Ciudad Juarez
was 300, according to a report in El Norte, however, health officials
admit that there are a lot of cases that are not reported or registered.
Part of the problem is the lack of official reporting. Health officials
estimate that in 1995, the year in which they have the best statistics,
4 out of every 100,000 people were infected with the virus. The death rates
between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez were also reported as differing markedly.
In 1995, 78 percent of AIDS patients died from it, while in El Paso only
55 percent of AIDS patients died, indicating that treatment may be
more available in the United States. The estimated cost of treating the
disease is $20,000 per year. In Mexico, women, children and adolescents
are the populations at the greatest risk of infection.
MALNUTRITION ALERT
The Family Development Agency (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia, DIF)
issued a child malnutrition alert after conducting a study of 719 children
enrolled in a subsidized breakfast program in school cafeterias. During
the 1995-1996 school year, the Agency diagnosed 41 percent, or
279, of
the children with varying degrees of malnutrition, based on a height and
weight proportional scale. The first sign of malnutrition in children is
a low weight and height for their age.
The Health Foundation of Mexico has reported there are 2.4 million children under 5 years old with some level of malnutrition nationwide. 1.3 million are located in rural areas and 800,000 are located in urban areas.
Malnutrition in children in Juarez has been blamed on low incomes and lack of information concerning nutrition. Health officials believe that families with malnourished children are feeding them a diet of mostly potatoes, pasta, rice, beans and Coca Cola and very little milk or other protein, and vegetables.
Educational campaigns on nutrition for pregnant and new mothers and low cost meals for children are two of the efforts underway to combat the problem.
CHIHUAHUA CERVICAL CANCER RATES in TOP FIVE
Chihuahua State is rated fourth in the nation for numbers of cervical cancer cases, it was reported in El Norte, even though the number of deaths have dropped slightly since the early 1990s. In 1991 there were 127 reported cases, in 1992 there were 147 reported cases and in 1995 there were 135 reported cases.
Sources: El Norte, Diario de Juarez