Venezuela Crisis - Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Colombia - IPPF 2019

March 2019 - Over 3.3 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015 many of whom are currently residing in neighbouring countries such as Colombia Ecuador and Peru. In addition to hosting over 1 million Venezuelans Colombia continues to suffer from the effects of longstanding violence and armed conflict between armed groups and criminal gangs. Crisis-affected people including those in host communities are in need of basic health assistance food and nutrition assistance protection services shelter and water and sanitation. With GAC’s support the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is helping provide life-saving sexual and reproductive health services to up to 70 000 crisis-affected people in the departments of Arauca Guajira and Norte de Santander in Colombia. Project activities include: (1) providing sexual and reproductive health services including the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) to up to 7 000 vulnerable people. The Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) is a series of crucial actions required to respond to reproductive health needs at the onset of every humanitarian crisis; (2) distributing essential medicines and contraceptives to service delivery points; and (3) conducting outreach in targeted communities on sexual and reproductive health and rights and prevention and response gender-based violence reaching up to 18 000 people.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to sexual and reproductive health services; and (2) increased awareness of services offered related to treatment of gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.