Notes from Meeting of Mexico City Health Council:

Notes from Meeting Health Council of Mexico City May 1915:

Founded in April of 1912.

Mission Statement: To further enhance the general public health of Mexico City. To serve as a medium between the elite and non-elite populations of the society when it comes to public health. To communicate how to achieve better hygiene on a personal and city wide level.

This meeting was called to order by the “elite” members of society who understand that Positivism is the necessary solution to bettering the city, both in manners of hygiene, and in general.

Today we have a guest visit by Javier Hernandez, graduate of the National School of Medicine in Mexico City, 1915, age 18, and current hygienist.

Hernandez begins with shocking statistics detailing the current life expectancies of people living in Mexico City. The 1900 census stated that In Mexico the average mortality rate is 33.6 per thousand people, and the average life expectancy is 26.5 years. The average lifespan of one living in Paris is almost double that.

Through his research, Hernandez and his coworkers have determined that the main cause of such low life expectancies and such high mortality rates is found in the cracks and woodworks of the city. Hernandez calls for hygienic reform to help better the health of the general public. Although in the past it was believed that God was punishing the city, it is now evident that through the research and organization of the “elite” of our society that that is not the case. The only way to know for sure is through scientific research and historical reference. The scientific solution would not have been able to be found without determining the problem first; luckily the sources of the problem have been found; Lake Texcoco’s proximity and this city’s inadequate sewer system. One of the goals of our committee is to fix these problems so that our city’s atmosphere will be free of danger. Lake Texcoco is the main cause of disease and vices in this city. The water in the lake is tainted, and has been tainted by those that have lived before us. The sewer system is in a poor condition. Hernandez has stressed that Mexico City’s sewer system is dangerous to the urban population.

As the Health Council of Mexico City, our mission statement promises to enhance public health as well as inform the rest of the population of the city’s current problems. The first step is to get this important message across to Mexico City’s urban population. This can be done in many ways. Our first proposal is to hold forums in which Hernandez and other hygienists would come and speak to help educate the masses on the health concerns they should be aware of. This also allows citizens to ask questions, and further their own education on the matter. Our second goal is to raise awareness of the horrible sewer system and work to get it renovated. To raise funds, we could possibly start a weekly collection for the sewer system renovation. At our next meeting, we will continue this discussion and further plan ways to help spread awareness on this issue.

Kelly Wedlake, Lara Mangialardi, Anna Farber