Bogotá, Colombia, August 6, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in coordination with the Cauca Departmental Government and with funding from the Colombia Humanitarian Fund (CHF), supported the distribution and installation of 1,600 long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) in the rural communities of San José de Guare, Limones, and El Carmelo, in the municipality of Guapi, Cauca.
The intervention is part of the Life-Saving Health Response project, implemented by PAHO in eight municipalities across the departments of Cauca, Chocó, Córdoba, Nariño, and Valle del Cauca to strengthen the health response to humanitarian needs.
The distribution of mosquito nets helps protect families from bites by mosquitoes that transmit malaria, particularly in communities where exposure to the disease poses a health risk.
During the activities, the Cauca Departmental Government's Vector-Borne Disease Control team, with technical support from PAHO, assisted with the installation of the nets and provided families with guidance on their proper use, washing, and maintenance.
Among those who received mosquito nets was Juan Patricio Hernández Montaño, 76, a resident of San José de Guare, who emphasized the importance of having these protective measures in place. “I never sleep without a mosquito net, and that's why, at 76, I've never had malaria,” he said as the nets were being installed in his home.
Through the Life-Saving Health Response project, with financial support from the Colombia Humanitarian Fund, PAHO continues to work alongside local authorities to strengthen health interventions for communities facing humanitarian needs.
