The Government of Canada, through PAHO / WHO, delivers supplies to fight COVID-19 to health institutions in Tumaco and Uribia
October 26, 2020
The Government of Canada, through the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO), donated protective equipment to eleven health institutions in the municipalities of Tumaco in Nariño and Uribia in La Guajira. The donation, totaling CAD$261,000, includes personal protective equipment (PPE), test kits and communication campaigns against contagion risks of COVID-19.
Health workers from eleven institutions in Tumaco and Uribia will benefit from the donation. In Tumaco, the beneficiaries are the Divino Niño Hospital and the health posts of Nuevo Horizonte, La Cordialidad, Las Palmas, Viento Libre, Llorente, Las Flores, Imbili and Candelillas. In Uribia, beneficiary institutions are the ESE Hospital Nazareth (Alta Guajira) and the ESE Hospital Nuestra Señora Perpetuo Socorro. These institutions serve ethnic, migrant and vulnerable communities, whose protection is essential to face the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ambassador of Canada in Colombia, Marcel Lebleu, was present for the delivery of the supplies along with: Gerson Bermont, Manager for the Response to COVID-19 of the Ministry of Health; Karen Mendoza, Director of Official Development Assistance from the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC-Colombia); Gina Tambini, Representative in Colombia for PAHO / WHO. Joining online were the Governor of La Guajira, Nemesio Roys, Director of the National Institute of Health, Diana Rosero, as well as departmental and municipal health secretaries and hospital directors.
“We believe that the only way to defeat COVID-19 is through cooperation, both bilateral and multilateral. This is why we are very proud to make this contribution, and work through a reliable and experienced partner such as PAHO, to municipalities and communities who need it” said Ambassador Marcel Lebleu.
PAHO / WHO Representative in Colombia, Gina Tambini, pointed out that within the framework of this alliance—in addition to the acquisition and delivery of protective equipment for health personnel—donations include hygiene kits for the migrant population and health kits for indigenous families, as well as communication and tracing supplies.
This donation is part of an effort by the Government of Canada to work through PAHO / WHO to help 23 countries in the Americas and the Caribbean to save lives, protect health workers, stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure effective tracking. To date, Canada has contributed nearly one million Canadian dollars to address the impact of the pandemic in Colombia.
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