The German Last Mile Initiative is supporting measures to protect Venezuelan migrants and vulnerable local populations in border regions of Colombia from COVID-19 and other endemic diseases. In cooperation with Charité Berlin and GIGA-Institut Hamburg, GIZ implements the financed measures through the Supporting Refugees, Migrants and Host Communities in the District of Bogotá, Colombia project.
Cross-border migration poses a challenge for vaccination campaigns in Colombia. Working with local partners in border areas and along migration routes to Bogotá, the project supports COVID-19 awareness campaigns. This include offers of vaccination as well as counselling on other endemic diseases, such as syphilis. A serological study on COVID-19 in migrants is being conducted. In addition, laboratory reagents to identify SARS-CoV-2 variants are being purchased and laboratory staff trained in the use of the tests. Finally, a study is being conducted into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on other communicable diseases, using syphilis as an example.
- Executing project: Supporting Refugees, Migrants and Host Communities in the District of Bogotá, Colombia
- Implementing organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with Charité Berlin and GIGA-Institut Hamburg
- Commissioned by: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
- Local partners: National Health Insititute Colombia (Ministry of Health), Industrial University Santander
- Funding: EUR 4 m from Last Mile Initiative (in addition to EUR 10 m core funding)
- Contact: carsten.schuettel@giz.de