Colombia: La atención basada en la comunidad continúa después del terremoto

In the wake of the earthquake in Colombia, Fòs Feminista is working closely with long-standing partner organizations to help sustain essential health services in affected communities. Building on decades of experience in community-based care, our partners, including Fundación Oriéntame, Fundación Unimédicos, are mobilizing frontline teams to provide primary health care, psychological support, and sexual and reproductive health services for women, girls, and others affected by the emergency. 

As communities begin to assess the impact of the earthquake, access to health care remains urgent. Displacement, damage to health facilities, disrupted transport, and the stress of an emergency compound existing barriers to care, especially for people who need contraception, pregnancy-related services, mental health support, or care following violence. 

In Ibagué and Dosquebradas, Fundación Oriéntame is preparing mobile health brigades after the earthquake damaged its clinic in the latter city. Its teams are providing essential health services, including psychological first aid, rapid health screenings, contraceptive care, emergency contraception, and menstrual health kits. The organization is also prepared to provide medication abortion care and screening for sexually transmitted infections. 

In Cali, Fundación Unimédicos is responding through in-person outreach and telemedicine. The initial phase of its response will prioritize primary care, support for pregnant people, follow-up contraceptive consultations, emergency contraception, and tele-ultrasound services. In the following weeks, the organization plans to expand services to include psychosocial support, clinical care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, abortion care, STI screening, and outreach in shelters and affected neighborhoods. 

“In emergencies, communities need direct support from organizations that know the territory, understand the people they serve, and have been committed to their health and rights for years.” 

—Giselle Carino, CEO, Fòs Feminista 

Our partners bring deep local knowledge and long-standing relationships with the communities they serve. Their response reflects the reality that health needs don’t stop when disaster strikes. Access to contraception, respectful pregnancy care, information, mental health support, and services for survivors of violence remains essential, particularly when public systems are under strain. 

Fòs Feminista will continue to accompany its partners as they respond to evolving needs in Colombia. We are grateful to the supporters whose commitment helps sustain this invaluable, community-led work before, during, and after emergencies.