TIJUANA.- Tijuana's Mayor, Dr. Jorge Astiazaran Orci, recently visited deported migrants and drug addicted homeless persons living in the river channel in the northwest part of the city known as "El Bordo". The visit took place during the second day of preventative health activities in the Tijuana river zone.

The mayor supervised work conducted by various municipal departments to support these homeless individuals, including health and medical attention, legal support such as that provided by the Civil Registrar, and the Municipal Institute Against Addiction (IMCA), among other services offered. Other non-profit organizations working in collarboration with the city government were present to lend a hand, including shelters like CIRAD, A.C., Albergue Las Memorias, A.C., Centro la Vereda, A.C. and "En busca de una Nueva Esperanza", a women only rehab.

Mayor Astiazaran states that the city's government will continue these efforts for as much time as needed in order to try and offer residents of this zone options to rehabilitate, or return to their places of origin elsewhere in Mexico.

"We want to reach out to them and gain their trust, so that they know that we are not a repressive government but rather a government that is sensitive to their situation and concerned about their health. We are here with some rehabilitation patients so that you can see the as examples of what is possible", said Mayor Astiazaran during his visit.

Mayor Astiazaran explained that another objective of the so-called "Programa Mejora" (Improvement Program), is to help these individuals leave the canal and prevent acts of vandalism on behalf of those that live there. They are also ensuring that the Municipal Police address residents here fairly, and reduce corruption.

The second day of activities attended more than 600 people in the morning, including 200 HIV tests,

200 Syphilis Tests, and 200 Hepatitis C Tests, where they found 29 tested positive for Hepatitis C and 4 tested positive for Syphilis.

The program also includes assistance for these displaced residents to obtain birth certificates and migrant credentials, vital documents for them to either travel or obtain identification needed to obtain employment in Mexico.

Five-Hundred "Migrant Kits" were handed out, containing essentials such as toilet paper, razors, soap, granola pars, soup, and other food items. An organization called Prevencasa handed out 500 prevention kits containing sterile syringes, injectable water, and condoms with the goal of preventing the spread of communicable diseases.

During the second day of the operation, fifteen men and two women enrolled in Rehabilitation Centers and twelve obtained migrant credentials to enable them to travel to their home towns.

Mayor Jorge Astiazaran handed out bus tickets to people originally from Chiapas, Guerrero, Veracruz, and other places in Baja California so that they could return home.

The Mayor announced a permanent assistance booth would be set up and operate Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 1:00pm to assist and provide support under the program, and they will continuously provide rehabilitation and return fair services to these individuals.

Finally, Mayor Astiazaran conducted a tour of the river zone and met with persons living in this area and invited them to sign up for rehabilitation programs. The city of Tijuana will continue with these programs in order to help the most amount of people as possible, with the help of not only helping those in need but also reducing levels of crime in the city, thus improving the city's image and other sectors such as tourism and commerce.

Editorial@sandiegored.com