According to figures from the Ministry of Health of Colombia, approximately 450 municipalities in the country located in rural areas have limitations in accessing medical and surgical services. On average, around one-third of people in the Americas (29.3%) reported not seeking healthcare when needed due to multiple access barriers, according to data from the Pan American Health Organization.
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Under this perspective, in a joint effort to improve the health of the Colombian population and provide free and high-quality medical care to those areas where access to healthcare services is limited, Clínica del Country, Clínica La Colina, and Colmédica, in partnership with the Colombian Civil Air Patrol (PAC), will carry out the 16th medical brigade and the 1st with surgical interventions in the municipality of San Martín de Loba (Bolívar).

This municipality, with a population of over 15,000 inhabitants, has a Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) of 60%, of which 18% of the population does not have health insurance, according to the latest census from Dane in 2018.

"By joining forces, we are prepared to provide quality medical care to those in vulnerable situations and in areas where access is limited, places we as a company cannot reach directly. In this campaign, unlike previous ones, we will provide care with greater complexity with the aim of effectively meeting the comprehensive health needs of the most vulnerable communities," says Dr. Ana María Quijano Barriga, Health Manager of Colmédica.

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With this brigade, the aim is to provide free and high-quality medical care to the most vulnerable population in the region, with a special focus on those residing in rural areas, who are not affiliated with the contributory regime, and who are experiencing poverty or extreme poverty.

"For this new brigade, Clínica del Country, Clínica La Colina, and Colmédica will arrive equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology and a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals ready to offer first-class care to the inhabitants of San Martín de Loba. In addition to medical and surgical interventions, prevention and disease promotion activities will be carried out, aiming to educate the community and promote long-term health," highlights Dr. Santiago López Barrera, manager of Clínica del Country and Clínica La Colina.

During this mission, it is estimated that around 350 people will be attended to, who will have access to 60 outpatient surgical procedures in general surgery (hernias and lipomas) and urology surgery (vasectomy, orchidopexy, circumcision, hydrocelectomy, varicocelectomy), as well as pediatric consultations, dermatology, ultrasounds (abdomen, breast, soft tissues, obstetric, urinary tract), and family planning implants (including implant insertion and pregnancy testing).

"For the Colombian Civil Air Patrol, it is very significant to reach San Martín de Loba for the first time with a medical-surgical brigade that literally brings the hospital to the people. We are grateful to our allies Clínica del Country, Clínica La Colina, and Colmédica because, thanks to their contribution, not only financial but also with volunteer healthcare professionals of the highest quality, they become a perfect complement to reach this difficult-to-access territory in our country. We also give special recognition to the Mayor's Office and the E.S.E. Hospital San Martín de Loba, key actors for the coordination and success of our brigade," stated Pamela Estrada Ocampo, General Director of the Colombian Civil Air Patrol.

Once the Brigade is finished, the institutions will present a report to the government control entities for the continuation of the health prevention and promotion plans needed in this region of the country.

Colmédica and the Colombian Civil Air Patrol

Since 2015, the Colombian Civil Air Patrol (PAC) and Colmédica have worked tirelessly to reduce infant morbidity and mortality in Colombia and provide high-quality medical care to the most vulnerable communities, as was the case in Riosucio (Chocó), Cumaribo (Vichada), Arauca (Arauca), and Chimichagua (Cesar).

In 2023, Clínica del Country and Clínica La Colina, in a joint effort with highly qualified healthcare professionals and state-of-the-art medical equipment, joined this noble cause, adding vital and high-quality services for cervical and prostate cancer screening to the medical brigades.

EDWIN CAICEDO | HEALTH UNIT WRITER
@CAICEDOUCROS | @SALUDET