Colombia

Concern America has trained 90 community leaders to provide health and environmental health services to a population of 20,000.

A snapshot of our work-to-date

Location: Chocó, Colombia

Languages spoken: Spanish, Embera, and Waunnan

Map of Colombia

2004

Year established in Colombia

20,000

People impacted by program

40

Rural communities served

10 hrs

Typical travel time of rural residents to the nearest health center

90

Community leaders trained

About the work

Beginning in 2004, the program has trained over 90 health promoter practitioners and midwives, including those receiving specialized training in women’s health, dental health, and environmental health, working with the program and providing health care, health education, and sanitation measures to their communities.

The program is located in the isolated, war-torn region of Chocó, in the northwest of Colombia. Connected by the Atrato River and its many tributary river basins, the communities located in this vastly rural and forested region are continually caught between and severely affected by the numerous armed factions operating there.

The civil war, material poverty, and a broken governmental health system have led to a severe health care crisis, where many live as far as 10 hours of difficult travel from the nearest health center.

  • Community-led health care
  • Education and virtual health training
  • Clean water

Over 20,000 people receive health services in 40 rural communities, the majority of which are Afro-Colombian and indigenous, including Embera and Waunnan communities.

Colombia Program Highlight

Health Care

Concern America trains community health care providers to diagnose and treat 80% of the primary health care needs in their community. In addition to the incredible impact of accessible health care services, the program transforms the lives of the practitioners themselves, who would otherwise have little access to formal education past elementary level.

“I was a traditional midwife who learned from my experience in the community, what I had seen, and what I had lived. Then I heard about Concern America’s programs and the depth of the trainings. And for me, it was a huge success because I always dreamed of being a health promoter practitioner. It’s what I was born for, it’s what I felt in my heart, the calling that all of my life I wanted to follow, being a practitioner.”

-Oneida, Concern America Health Promoter Practitioner

Washington Post

Stories

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