IOM's Emergency Assistance Programme for Persons in Search of
International Protection, which covers Colombia's borders with
Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela, dispatched five 10-person medical
teams to work with Colombians who have crossed international
borders in search of protection and the local residents in the
receiving communities.

The IOM-led medical teams, equipped with portable testing
equipment, are carrying out tests including pap smears and other
histopathology evaluations. 

In the Ecuadorian border town of San Lorenzo, the teams have so
far tested and treated 287 women (207 Ecuadorians and 80
Colombians).  The medical personnel also provide training on
treatment and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs)
and HIV/AIDS, which motivated some 80 per cent of the patients to
be tested for HIV.  The results of the tests will be used to
determine the prevalence of STIs in each community and to implement
better treatment and prevention mechanisms.

"These communities are poor and isolated, so the women do not
have easy access to these tests.  Some women have up to 15
children, so these tests are vital for the health of the women and
the entire community," explains Juan Fernando Borja, IOM Programme
Officer.

One of the main objectives of this project is to strengthen the
local capacity to manage STIs by training local Ministry of Health
staff, which is part of the IOM medical teams."

A Colombian patient told IOM staff: "I am happy to have this
opportunity; there are many diseases in San Lorenzo.  This
treatment and training is vital for women to take better care of
our health."

Since October 2005, this IOM programme has been addressing the
emergency needs faced by Colombians who flee their country due to
conflict and the local population of the impoverished border
communities. 

A survey conducted in February 2008 by UNHCR reported an
estimated 85,000 Colombians living in communities along Ecuador's
northern border.  Some 35,000 persons confirmed that they had
applied for asylum, but only 70% were found to have special
protection needs.

The programme, funded by the US Department of State's Bureau of
Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), covers Colombia's border
areas with Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.

For more information contact:

Ana Guzman

IOM Ecuador

Tel:  (593-2)-225-3948

E-mail: "mailto:aguzman@iom.int">aguzman@iom.int