Zulma López/ DLA.-
A small outpatient clinic located in the town of La Parada in the border municipality of Villa del Rosario In Colombia, it has become an alternative for Venezuelans who need medical attention and who do not have the resources to cover the expenses generated by private health in our country or who do not receive assistance in public hospitals.
The clinic that is located just 4 blocks from the Simón Bolívar international bridgeis part of a program at the Jorge Cristo Sahium Hospital in the municipality of Villa del Rosario, which is supported by the IOM and the HOPE project that provides support to people over 17 years of age and pregnant women.
María Fernanda Quijano, head nurse of the healthcare center, explained that The services offered in said institution are outpatient consultation, general medicine, psychology, nutrition, dentistry and nursing, aimed mainly at the migrant population.
According to Quijano the majority of people who come to the place are Venezuelans and no appointment is required to be seen by the healthcare staff. He assured that They serve between 18 and 20 people daily, the majority of them being of Venezuelan nationality.
He clarified that there they provide medical care to Colombians who do not have EPS, which are the ones that guarantee care and provision of medical services in the neighboring country.
The nursing professional explained that the most common reasons for consultation among the Venezuelan population are chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertensionas well as the need for specialized care.
“We also offer care for patients without discrimination of any diagnosis, of any pathology. Any patient who has a health need comes for consultation because they are treated without any discrimination,” he stressed.
In relation to pregnant women, he explained that they are monitored and laboratory tests are carried out at the Jorge Cristo Sahium Hospital.
María Fernanda Quijano reported that, To have access to the outpatient services, the only requirement for the Venezuelan population is to present their identity card or safe-conduct pass.they even provide assistance to those who are processing the EPS (Health Promotion Entity).
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**Interview with María Fernanda Quijano, Head Nurse at the Outpatient Clinic in La Parada, Colombia**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, María Fernanda. Can you tell us a bit about the clinic and its mission?
**María Fernanda Quijano:** Thank you for having me. Our clinic, located just four blocks from the Simón Bolívar international bridge in La Parada, aims to provide essential medical care to Venezuelan migrants who may not have the resources to access private healthcare or who are unable to find assistance in public hospitals. We’re part of the program at the Jorge Cristo Sahium Hospital, supported by IOM and the HOPE project, focusing on individuals over 17 years old and pregnant women.
**Interviewer:** That sounds important. What kind of services do you offer, and who are your primary patients?
**María Fernanda Quijano:** We offer a variety of services, including outpatient consultations in general medicine, psychology, nutrition, dentistry, and nursing. While the majority of our patients are Venezuelan migrants, we also provide care for Colombians without access to the EPS system, which guarantees medical services in Colombia.
**Interviewer:** How does the process work for those who come to the clinic? Do they need to make appointments?
**María Fernanda Quijano:** No appointments are necessary; patients can simply walk in. We see between 18 to 20 individuals each day, most of whom are Venezuelans seeking medical attention.
**Interviewer:** With such a high influx of people needing medical help, what challenges does the clinic face?
**María Fernanda Quijano:** One of the main challenges is the limited resources available to us, as we are serving a large and vulnerable population. Additionally, the constant flow of migrants means we must be adaptable and responsive to the varying needs of our patients, which can be quite demanding.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing this insight, María Fernanda. The work you and your team are doing is incredibly vital for the community.
**María Fernanda Quijano:** Thank you for highlighting our efforts. It’s our privilege to serve those in need and help provide them with the care they deserve.
