Improving access to intercultural health services in the indigenous communities of Vaupés.

Department of Vaupés, Amazon region of Colombia - FALCK DANMARCK A/S

During the 2020 term, we continued with the execution of the project that began during the 2019 term having significant progress in the process of consolidation of the intercultural health model that we have been co-constructing with the communities and indigenous organizations of the suburban area of Mitú in articulation with local institutions. The strengthening of the capacities of local institutions and indigenous organizations that we have been carrying out through technical assistance and support aims to expand the process and its sustainability under the leadership of these local actors.

Its main objective is to improve the access of indigenous communities in the prioritized regions of Vaupés to quality health services through a primary health care model adapted to the culture and needs of the population.

Among its specific objectives are:

1. Consolidate the proposed culturally adapted primary health care model to provide local health authorities with tools for its extension to other regions of Vaupés.

   
   

2. Strengthen the institutional capacities of the health services to provide effective and quality health care to the indigenous communities with a differential approach.

   
   

3. Improve the capacity of indigenous organizations to strengthen the governance of the health system in the proposed areas.

The project was formulated based on four fundamental principles: 1) Generate agreements with the communities, indigenous organizations and institutions to establish priorities and work plans. 2) Articulate and bring key actors together so that the analysis of problems and the generation of solutions can take place locally. 3) Provide technical assistance and support capacity building among communities and institutions to ensure greater coverage of better quality services while improving sustainability. 4) Generate and use information to understand local visions and contexts, adapt programs, monitor and evaluate progress, make decisions and promote political advocacy.

These resources also allowed us to support COVID-19 mitigation actions in the Amazon region.