The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), is providing technical cooperation to Colombian authorities to support the health response following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10.
Since the onset of the emergency, PAHO/WHO has maintained close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the National Institute of Health, and departmental and local authorities to support health needs assessments, identify priority needs, and help ensure the continuity of essential health services in the areas most affected by the earthquake.
Preliminary assessments indicate damage to health facilities in several departments, including Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Caldas, Cauca, and Quindío. Reported impacts include structural and non-structural damage to hospitals and clinics, as well as damage to water storage and supply systems that could affect the operation of some health services. Authorities continue to verify and update information as assessments progress.
PAHO/WHO has deployed teams to Cali and Chocó, including specialists in emergency coordination and response, epidemiology, health services, information management, and communications.
The Organization has also strengthened coordination with humanitarian organizations and other health sector partners through the Colombia Health Cluster, the mechanism that coordinates the humanitarian health response. As part of these efforts, PAHO/WHO requested a rapid mapping of available capacities among partners and convened an extraordinary meeting to review the situation and agree on priority actions.
Technical cooperation also includes support for health damage and needs assessments; the mobilization of teams in coordination with health authorities; the deployment of specialists to assess hospitals and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions; and the deployment of medical teams to help sustain health services in affected communities.
In the affected areas, PAHO/WHO specialists are supporting health authorities in the assessment of hospitals and other health facilities, while helping strengthen local capacities for early recovery following disasters. These efforts are aimed at identifying the priority needs of health services.
Our priority is to help ensure that affected communities continue to have access to essential health services while supporting authorities in identifying and addressing the most urgent needs. PAHO/WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health, local health teams, and partners to support the response and help protect the health of affected communities."
Dr. Ana Rivière Cinnamond, PAHO/WHO Representative in Colombia
Earlier today, Dr. Rivière Cinnamond met with Minister of Health and Social Protection Ana María Vesga and other health authorities to review the health situation and coordinate response activities.
Damage and needs assessments remain underway in the affected areas as national and local authorities continue to lead response operations.
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