Nariño, Colombia, October 21, 2026 (PAHO) – More than 300 people in the remote community of Teraimbe, in Barbacoas, Nariño, received essential health services during a four-day health mission supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and funded by the Colombia Humanitarian Fund (CHF).
Accessible only by boat along the Telembí River, Teraimbe is part of the Nueva Alianza Community Council, where geographic, economic, and security barriers make it difficult for residents to access timely health care.
The mission brought together primary health care teams from San Antonio de Barbacoas Hospital, PAHO consultants, and a representative of the Nariño Departmental Health Institute to deliver medical care and preventive services directly to the community.
During the four-day mission, health teams provided general medical consultations, nutrition services, nursing care, dental care, family planning, physical therapy, psychological support, vaccinations, health education, and medications. Activities also included risk communication and measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse.
Patients requiring specialized care were referred for pediatric, nutrition, and neurology services. The teams also arranged transfers to Barbacoas and supported people with disabilities in completing disability assessment and registration procedures.
In addition to services provided at the community center, primary health care teams conducted home visits, particularly for older adults and people with disabilities. These visits included health care, health promotion activities, and psychological first aid.
The strong community turnout highlighted the importance of bringing health services directly to populations facing significant barriers to care. Beyond medical consultations, the mission included educational activities on nutrition, hygiene, mental health, disease prevention, and risk management.
“It is very important to use simple language so that children and adults can understand that their health also depends on everyday personal and household hygiene practices, which help prevent disease and reduce health risks,” said María Luz Libia Yaqueno Martínez, an emergency response professional at the Nariño Departmental Health Institute.
Yésika Danesa Ortiz, Deputy Scientific Director of San Antonio de Barbacoas Hospital, also emphasized the importance of bringing health services directly to rural communities. She highlighted the value of providing respectful, community-centered care that builds trust and encourages healthy practices.
For Teraimbe residents, the mission provided an opportunity to receive medical consultations, medications, follow-up care for chronic conditions, and guidance on maintaining their health. Children also participated in educational and recreational activities, including mental health promotion and dental care, helping reinforce healthy habits and disease prevention practices.
The intervention was carried out under the project “Life-Saving Health Response to Outbreaks of Emerging and Reemerging Diseases, Violence, and Climate-Related Emergencies in Colombia,” implemented by PAHO since May 2026 with funding from the Colombia Humanitarian Fund (CHF). The project aims to improve access to essential health services for more than 240,000 people across 63 municipalities in 13 departments of Colombia.
The experience in Teraimbe demonstrates the value of humanitarian health interventions that bring essential services closer to underserved populations, helping reduce barriers to care in some of Colombia's most vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities.
