Maria Davis-Cherry is pictured in front of a cancer clinic in Tijuana, in 2019. (Photo courtesy of KPBS)
From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells personal stories, stories of love, hope, struggle and survival, from border crossers and other people whose lives are shaped by the wall.
Despite the pandemic and travel restrictions, people are still crossing into Tijuana for medical procedures and medications. And, in fact, over the past decade, the urban landscape south of the San Ysidro Port of Entry has transformed as investors build big, new medical centers and pharmacies.
Filling up those new medical facilities at the border are people from the U.S. and other parts of the world who cross south to take advantage of more affordable medical procedures and medications. They’re looking to save money on everything from discount dental work and weight loss surgery to more affordable insulin.
But, not every single medical tourist is crossing the border to save money. People like Maria Davis-Cherry are crossing the border in hopes of saving their own lives.
“Port of Entry” is launching a new series on medical tourism at the border. Up first: we follow Davis-Cherry as she crosses the border for alternative cancer treatments in Tijuana.
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Latino USA with Maria Hinojosa, produced by Futuro Media, is the longest-running Latino-focused program on U.S. public media.
