Activities in Colombia

According to Colombia’s 2005 national census, 2.65 million people, or 6.3 percent of the nation's population of 42.09 million, are disabled. In the armed struggle that has lasted more than four decades, the number of people injured by anti-personnel mines has surpassed Cambodia and Afghanistan over the past three years to set a world record. The disabled do not have access to adequate medical treatment, making it difficult to lead an independent life, seek employment and otherwise participate in society. As a result, bolstering the rehabilitation system for the disabled including those injured by landmines has become a pressing issue. This project is being implemented in Antioquia Department where the highest number of those disabled by landmines is living, as well as in Valle del Cauca Department, where the University Hospital of Valle is located, which can be a rehabilitation base as the third or fourth level hospital solely in the southwestern region of Colombia.

The aim of this project is to improve the quality of the integrated rehabilitation system provided for the disabled, particularly those injured by landmines. To do this, rehabilitation specialists will be trained in treatment technology, diagnostic protocols will be standardized for specialist teams, accessibility to rehabilitation services for landmine victims will be improved, and activities will be carried out such as educating personnel in each region on first aid to decrease infection and prevent secondary medical issues.

Project Highlights

Trainings will be provided locally in Colombia as well as in Japan and Chile to specialists in medical agencies, landmine victim assistance non-governmental organizations and governmental agencies to promote knowledge about integrated rehabilitation systems. The trainings will include team rehabilitation, visual impairment treatment technology and prosthetic limb adaptation technology. As for anti-personnel landmines issue, the local Japanese embassy provides a grassroots and human security grant aid cooperation, i.e. a landmine removal vehicle is supplied and hopefully synergistic effects are sought for through cooperation as well.

• Record of Discussions signed on: August 4, 2008
• Total Amount of Cooperation: 245.352 million yen
• Executing Agency: the Presidential Program for Integrated Action Against Antipersonnel Mines, the Ministry of Social Protection, and the Health Secretary of the Antioquia and Valle del Cauca Departments