Vaupés Health - 2019

In the Amazon region, specifically in the department of Vaupés, there is a particular difficulty in accessing western health services, among others, due to the high geographic dispersion. Even when these services are provided, they are not adapted to the local socio-cultural context, since about 67% of the population is indigenous. Health indicators in the department are dramatic, with figures that exceed national averages in maternal and infant mortality, mortality from respiratory infections, diarrhea, suicide, tuberculosis, malnutrition, among other conditions.

Thus, since 2012 we have set as an objective:

Improve the access of indigenous communities in prioritized areas of Vaupés to quality health services, through a primary health care model appropriate to the culture and needs of the local population.

For this we have built a model of primary health care, appropriate to the context, consisting of the following 10 components according to the priorities established with local stakeholders:

1. Local capacity building

2. Community and family health

3. Child health

4. Women's health

5. Approach to intercultural work

6. Surveillance in public and community health

7. Prevention and control of Neglected Infectious Diseases (NIDs)

8. Chronic diseases

9. Mental health

10. Basic assistance

We are permanently searching for strategic allies who want to join this process hand in hand with the communities and local institutions.

Since 2019, with the integration of Falck, we have worked, within the framework of the above, in strengthening the strengthening of our own. We are committed to the governance of the health area by indigenous organizations and communities, and in this line we want to ensure that they have sufficient support and tools to negotiate with local political authorities on how they expect the provision of services. The strengthening of our own has also included the contribution to the progress of the consolidation of the Indigenous Health System.