Colombia - Health and Water Interventions - Médecins du Monde Canada 2015

March 2015 – Colombia continues to be plagued by a long-standing armed conflict. An estimated 5.7 million people are either displaced within the country or have sought refuge in Ecuador and Venezuela. Consequences of the conflict include forced displacement limited mobility of people goods and services forced recruitment of children and young people by armed groups as well as sexual and gender-based violence. In 2014 1.4 million people had limited access to basic and public services. 4.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance including access to safe water adequate sanitation and hygiene systems health care services in rural areas protection as well as timely food assistance and nutritional support. With DFATD’s support Médecins du Monde is increasing access to basic health care psychosocial support safe drinking water and treatment against malnutrition for 7 000 conflict-affected people in six targeted municipalities in the department of Meta. Project activities include: (1) providing 33 mobile health clinics to offer primary healthcare services including psychosocial support in isolated communities; (2) identifying and treating severe acute malnutrition for 2 000 women and children; (3) providing 500 water filters and 500 bed nets to communities most affected by water-borne diseases; and (4) providing medical and legal services to more than 8 000 victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to health care and psychosocial support; (2) increased access to interventions aimed at preventing identifying and treating malnutrition; (3) improved access to safe drinking water and reduction of water-borne diseases; and (4) improved access to medical and legal services for victims of sexual and gender-based violence. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.