Latin America

Colombia

2019
mission start date
57
national staff
4
expatriate staff
22 000
people supported
2019
mission start date
57
national staff
4
expatriate staff
22 000
people supported

Context

A Première Urgence Internationale social worker leads a workshop with Venezuelan children during the extra-mural day organized in the center of Pamplona ©Première Urgence Internationale / Nadège Mazars

Colombia is facing significant challenges due to ongoing armed conflicts involving non-state armed groups and the state, climate disasters, massive migration from Venezuela and limited institutional capacity. In Norte de Santander and Arauca, humanitarian access has deteriorated due to the strong presence of non-state armed groups, leading to increased violence and people’s displacement. Healthcare services in conflict-affected regions are severely strained, while the demand has increased with the migrant population settling. Norte de Santander and Arauca have 1.2 and 1.4 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants, respectively, compared to the national average of 2.4 and the WHO recommendation of 3.5. Health centers face deficiencies in infrastructure, personnel shortages, and inadequate supplies, impacting physical and mental healthcare services, prenatal care, and basic healthcare for children and adolescents.

Our approach
Description of the mission

Premiere Urgence Internationale’s extensive expertise in physical and mental health, including nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, and protection contributes to mitigate the needs in the departments targeted, namely in Arauca and Norte de Santander. Our interventions aims to address the complex challenges faced by the local and migrant populations in accessing healthcare by implementing a proven strategy of direct health attention combined with a robust referral system with an established network of institutional and humanitarian actors:

Premiere Urgence Internationale provides direct health services with professional doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and nurse assistants, and ensures quality healthcare, making it a trusted presence in the area. Premiere Urgence Internationale’s prudent methodology for extramural intervention enables it to operate effectively in hard-to-reach regions.

Première Urgence Internationale
in action

  • Provision of context-sensitive Primary Health Care services including nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, child health and mental health.
  • Individual and collective context-sensitive psychosocial support (counselling sessions)
  • Emergency response through mobile clinics (extramural activities)
  • Provision of training, equipment and rehabilitation of Health facilities
  • Referrals for complementary exams and care (health, protection, mental health and other services)
  • Education and sensitization activities to community and leaders regarding health promotion, gender equality, children rights, sexual and gender based violence, water and sanitation.
  • Supply of required medication for primary healthcare
  • Provision of water and higiene kits tailored to the needs to menstruating adolescents, lactating mothers and households facing malnutrition.

Anthropometric measurement of a child during an extramural activity in Catatumbo, November 2023 ©Première Urgence Internationale

Primary health care for a family living in a conflict-affected area, Catatumbo, January 2024 ©Première Urgence Internationale

Distribution of mosquito nets for the prevention of vector-borne diseases among pregnant and breastfeeding women, as part of the response to the El Niño phenomenon in Catatumbo, November 2023 ©Première Urgence Internationale

Première Urgence Internationale staff set up stands to take part in the extra-mural day organized in the center of Pamplona / ©Première Urgence Internationale / Nadège Mazars

A social worker leads a workshop with children whose families are staying at the Bucaramanga shelter. ©Première Urgence Internationale / Nadège Mazars

Latest news

In Myanmar, floods devastate communities

News
Myanmar Health + 1

Discover
Latest news

Nos actualités

Venezuela : Research on sexual and reproductive health

News
Venezuela Health

Yemen, 10 years of conflict, the forgotten crisis

News
Health Mental health & psychosocial support

Screening for child malnutrition in the DRC

News
Democratic Republic of Congo Health + 3

DRC: Communities pledge to protect their members

News
Democratic Republic of Congo Protection

2023 Annual report

News

Lebanon: Humanitarians are not a target

News
Lebanon Occupied Palestinian Territory + 2

Discover

Our donors


ECHO (European Commission)

SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)

Le Centre de crise et de soutien (CDCS) du ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères

ECHO (European Commission)

SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)

Le Centre de crise et de soutien (CDCS) du ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères

Similar missions

Benin/Togo

Africa Benin/Togo + 3

Ethiopia

Africa Ethiopia + 4

Cameroon

Africa Cameroon + 3

Thank you
Your support enables us to have a positive impact on 5 million people located in crisis zones every year.

Donate