Colombia - International - Médecins du Monde

ACTIVITIES

MdM carries out prevention activities, as well as providing medical consultations, for groups who are isolated by the local geography or by armed conflict. Mobile clinics, which are organised in close collaboration with Colombian health services, use dug-out canoes to reach the communities. By training community volunteers we can develop health promotion projects, carry out activities to tackle malnutrition and monitor pregnant women and young children.
Looking ahead to the closure of the project in mid-2011, MdM has strengthened the prevention and health education approaches, improved training for key players in the community and redoubled efforts to encourage the health authorities to take responsibility.

RESULTS

18 mobile clinics and 18 health promotion and prevention sessions have taken place in 18
communities.

OUTLOOK

The closure of the project and MdM’s withdrawal from Atrato region is planned for the end of June 2011. Communication activities are planned to highlight the problem of lack of access to health care for marginal populations caught up in the armed conflict, such as the Embera population, that MdM has been working with since 2004.

ACTIVITIES

MdM has set up mobile clinics offering medical and psychological consultations to the communities particularly affected by the conflict, in collaboration with the state-run health services. Particular attention is given to women of reproductive age and children under five, as well as the victims of violence and their families. In addition, the programme looks at increasing the active involvement of the communities, their organisations and their leaders, through training focused on psychological support and on sexual and reproductive health. This practice of strengthening the communities, as well as lobbying the health authorities, promotes the establishment of health services in areas where they have been lacking.

RESULTS

87 mobile clinics took place and, of these, 17 were organised in collaboration with the health authorities, helping 8,450 beneficiaries.

OUTLOOK

MdM cannot withdraw from certain areas without an improvement in security conditions and more effective support from the health authorities. As part of a strategy of supporting the populations worst affected by the conflict, MdM will step up its activities in the municipalities of Meta, and Guaviare in the north.

ACTIVITIES

MdM brings a programme of mobile clinics to the heart of the indigenous Awas reserve, in close co-operation with the health centre managed by the indigenous UNIPA organisation. The joint teams dispense medical care focusing on monitoring pregnant women and children, vaccinations, nutritional monitoring, family planning, and the detection of cases of malaria and tuberculosis.

At the same time MdM’s intervention includes health promotion, prevention and training activities, supporting community leaders and indigenous health promoters

RESULTS

21 mobile clinics were set up in collaboration with the indigenous organisation UNIPA, helping 4,000 beneficiaries.

OUTLOOK

In 2011, the focus will be on advocacy for culturally appropriate healthcare for the Awa population. MdM will conduct a study on the relevant health needs, which will help UNIPA in its advocacy efforts for official recognition of a specific health plan and financial cover.