Colombia-Venezuela Border Crisis

Health Care at the Border

Updated March 2020

Americares initially began operating four medical clinics in Colombia and then opened six more in response to the ever-growing humanitarian emergency in Venezuela. The clinics are established in coordination with the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and made possible with the generous support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) now called the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)..  In accordance with long-term plans, Americares has closed one clinic in Cesar in September and opened a new clinic in a different location in Cesar in October. In addition, Americares hired and trained Community Health Workers in the departments of Arauca, La Guajira, Magdalena, and Valle del Cauca in November. Americares hired more full-time personnel at all clinics in January, who will be focused on increased mobile clinic frequency and supporting clinical operations at the fixed facilities, as necessary. In February, Americares conducted 129 mobile clinics, which represents a significant increase from previous months.

The clinics have been providing essential health services free of charge to Venezuelan migrants and Colombian returnees six days a week. Since the beginning of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the clinics have had to reduce the number of hours they can operate in order to abide by protection and prevention guidelines for both staff and patients. By providing primary care, as well as delivering reproductive healthcare services and mental health support, Americares facilities are helping alleviate the strain Venezuelan migrants have placed on the Colombian health system. Mobility restrictions during the national quarantine in Colombia accounted for the loss of income of thousands of migrants mostly working in the informal sector. They have therefore faced economic barriers to access basic health services. Americares has adapted its services to meet the health needs of Venezuelan migrants throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many thousands of migrants have crossed the border in search of better healthcare, education and economic opportunities. Prenatal services are one of the major factors migrants seek care at the clinics around the country. From August 16, 2019 to February 26, 2021 Americares has conducted 248,879 patient consultations. Approximately 15 percent of those consultations are for prenatal care, and an additional 16 percent are focused on mental health issues, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Since the program’s inception in July 2018, there have been more than 300,000 patient consultations. With the addition of 5 new CHWs, Americares Colombia now has nine CHWs operating across eight departments. Nine more CHWs will join in the coming weeks.