EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR THE AMAZONIAN REGION OF COLOMBIA DURING THE COVID-19

This project is aimed at addressing the public health crisis that resulted from the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic to the Amazon Region of Colombia. The project seeks to articulate efforts with the local health centers and indigenous authorities in order to reinforce local capacities and put into action an efficient strategy to protect the life and wellbeing of ethnic communities that have been historically marginalized and neglected in the Colombian Amazonas. We will achieve this goal by providing medical and personal protection equipment for rural health centers and hard-to-reach indigenous communities; adapting protocols and guidelines from the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Health designed for the contingency of COVID-19 to the needs and sociocultural characteristics of the context; developing and disseminating information, communication and educational tools regarding COVID-19 prevention and preparation that are appropriate for the local indigenous context; and developing an Amazon Region Health Observatory to follow-up on key health issues and provide useful information for advocacy. Funding is provided by Direct Relief and Sinergias. Primary collaborators are national and local level indigenous organizations.