News Updates

Focus on Mexico will soon have a new look, new possibilities and a wealth of new information available on their soon-to-launch interactive website. Four team members went to Boston in October to attend Synergy 2008, an annual multi-day event for Ektron customers and partners that consisted of workshops, breakout sessions and open forums.

 Ray Suarez joined The PBS NewsHour in October 1999 as its Washington-based senior correspondent. He was among the PBS news crew present at the Medicare town hall meeting which took place last week in Puerto Vallarta (see page 3). Here, Suarez gives his views on the campaign to bring Medicare to Mexico.
Why was PBS interested in covering this town hall meeting?

 A PBS Jim Lehrer News Hour crew flew into Puerto Vallarta last weekend to join around 90 expats and representatives of interest groups at the first of 15 planned town hall meetings to discuss the effort to bring Medicare coverage to eligible beneficiaries living in Mexico.
“There are plausible arguments to be made on both sides,” said PBS correspondent Ray Suarez, who interviewed several of those attending the meeting. “That’s what makes it a fascinating debate.”

The Centro de Cultura Ambiental y Espacio de Cultura de Agua (CCA-ECA), headquartered in downtown Chapala at Avenida Hidalgo 129 opposite the Santander bank, will be the focal point for conferences, exhibitions, teaching workshops, information sharing and other activities aimed at strengthening knowledge about Lake Chapala and its watershed, particularly in regard to the challenges of protecting and healing natural ecosystems.

 “Everything Old is New Again” is a popular event that puts gently loved used clothing donated by local women and businesses on beautiful models who use the runway to sell the items by auction. Starting bids are very low so everyone can get in on the act. Donated clothing that isn’t shown off by the models is also available in a “One Day Only Boutique.” Some stores, including Alma Gutierrez, Fiaga Boutique and Galeria, Lois Cugini Opus Boutique and Mi Mexico, will donate new clothes for the sale.

 More help is needed to offset the expenses of caring for the 60 children now living at Love in Action, say supporters of the shelter.
The basic need is for more good nutrition and more volunteers to help with child care.

Last month, six new children were placed at the shelter by the Family Development Institute (DIF). Five were from Ajijic and one from Ixtlahuacan.
The children sent to the Love in Action shelter are often from abusive or neglectful situations and need the best nutritional and medical care to put them back into good health.

The Chapala branch of the National Chamber of Commerce (CANACO) has provided a complete list of documents that are required to obtain the new IMSS affiliate smart card, dubbed the ADIMSS.

Julie Shattock The rising cost of health care in the United States is forcing an increasing number of U.S. citizens to turn their sights on Mexico for expert and cost-effective medical attention.

Research done by the Association for Private Hospitals in Jalisco reveals that of the 21.5 million tourists who visited Mexico in 2006, about 160,000 --- mostly Americans --- came for medical attention.

  Mexico's top health official said Thursday the number of new swine flu cases is stabilizing in the nation at the epicenter of the outbreak. Health secretary Jose Angel Cordova told
a news conference he hoped the trend will continue

The Chapala city government honored nine local women for outstanding contributions to community life at a sunset ceremony held April 3 at the waterfront La Vela plaza.

Mayor-Modesto-HernandezInterim Chapala Mayor Modesto Hernandez presided at the event, presenting the Diosa Machis awards to the honorees in recognition for diverse activities that benefit the municipality and its inhabitants. She spoke in favor of institutionalizing the awards program --- named after the indigenous female lake deity --- as an annual tradition in acknowledgment of good deeds on behalf of the citizenry.