Contact: Jill Watson, Malteser International Americas, 305-448-5111

 

MIAMI, July 11, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Malteser International Americas, the Miami-based global humanitarian organization, is connecting mothers and their children with critical, life-saving health care in Latin America. Those who are at-risk and have been discriminated against will have access to 20 rehabilitated, better-equipped health centers. Over 40 female health care workers will also be trained to bring health care where it is desperately needed in remote areas of Colombia.

 

"Malteser International America's prior work in Colombia has been successful because our teams on the ground have spent years building relationships with local people and organizations that often transcended the unrest in the region," said Ravi Tripptrap, Executive Director of Malteser International Americas. "This bond of trust will be paramount to fulfilling our mission to help increase access to and strengthen the quality of basic services, so that vulnerable women and children in this region of Colombia can live healthier lives with dignity."

 

The internal conflict in the country, combined with a high number of people who have been displaced, marginalized, and forgotten, as a result, has resulted in an extreme lack of access to basic physical and mental health services for Colombians. In La Guajira and Magdalena, two regions in northern Colombia already enduring the effects of a severe 2-year drought, economic disparity, disease, and malnourishment - women and children, specifically, endure the greatest suffering

 

Nearly 86% of people, mostly indigenous and Afro-Colombian people who have been displaced, only have limited access to basic health services, and 80% of the existing health centers do not have an adequate infrastructure, or equipment. As a result, there are high numbers of malnourished children and very high maternal and child mortality rates in the target areas.

 

The goals of Malteser International Americas' women and children health program in rural, remote Colombia include:

 

·          Rehabilitating and equipping 20 health centers,

 

·          Establishing a sustainable supply system with medicine and healthy food supplements;

 

·          Training 40 health workers and traditional midwives who can bring their skills to their communities and teach others.

 

The program focuses on empowering females with skills they need to care for each other, and provide for their children, their families and their communities. The program gives power back to the women in the community after years of armed conflict and subsequent displacement rendered them powerless.

 

In addition, Malteser International Americas will also focus on improving access to Primary Health Care -including mother-child health- and mental health care of female survivors of gender-based violence and displacement in marginalized, rural and semi-rural communities in La Guajira and Magdalena.

 

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