Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BOGOTA1467
2008-04-21 15:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
COLOMBIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0013 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #1467 1121513 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 211513Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2446 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0283 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 6119 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ APR QUITO 6770 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 1548 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8144
UNCLAS BOGOTA 001467
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR OES/IHB, KOWALSKI; IO/T, BLACKWOOD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON AORC PREL TBIO WHO CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
REGULATIONS
REF: STATE 33263
UNCLAS BOGOTA 001467
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR OES/IHB, KOWALSKI; IO/T, BLACKWOOD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON AORC PREL TBIO WHO CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
REGULATIONS
REF: STATE 33263
1. In response to reftel Econoff contacted Victor Hugo
Alvarez, Coordinator of Public Health for the Colombian
Ministry of Social Protection (Ministry). Alvarez said the
Colombian government is implementing the International Health
Regulations (IHR). Alvarez also requested a copy of the U.S.
IHR implementation plan which Econoff provided to him.
2. According to Alvarez, the Colombian government has taken
a number of steps to implement the IHR. In 2006 the Ministry
created a National Liaison Center as the National IHR Focal
Point. Since 2006 the Ministry has held seminars on IHR with
health institutions, universities and local government
bodies, particularly those close to international points of
entry. The Ministry also developed a diagnostic tool to
assess the ability of their existing national structures and
resources to meet core IHR capacities and particularly to
analyze the capacity of international points of entry to
implement the IHR.
3. In 2008 the Ministry took two important actions to
implement IHR. First, in January 2008 the Ministry issued a
memo to all appropriate agencies and entities on
implementation of the IHR. Second, on April 13, 2008
Minister of Social Protection Diego Palacio and World Health
Organization country representative Dr. Pier Paolo Balladelli
signed a Declaration regarding the IHR in which Colombia
committed to put in place all actions necessary to implement
the IHR.
4. Alvarez said the Ministry also developed a national
policy on food safety and strengthened public health
laboratories. In addition, Alvarez noted that the GOC has
participated in technical and scientific cooperation
agreements related to the IHR with the neighboring countries
of Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR OES/IHB, KOWALSKI; IO/T, BLACKWOOD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON AORC PREL TBIO WHO CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
REGULATIONS
REF: STATE 33263
1. In response to reftel Econoff contacted Victor Hugo
Alvarez, Coordinator of Public Health for the Colombian
Ministry of Social Protection (Ministry). Alvarez said the
Colombian government is implementing the International Health
Regulations (IHR). Alvarez also requested a copy of the U.S.
IHR implementation plan which Econoff provided to him.
2. According to Alvarez, the Colombian government has taken
a number of steps to implement the IHR. In 2006 the Ministry
created a National Liaison Center as the National IHR Focal
Point. Since 2006 the Ministry has held seminars on IHR with
health institutions, universities and local government
bodies, particularly those close to international points of
entry. The Ministry also developed a diagnostic tool to
assess the ability of their existing national structures and
resources to meet core IHR capacities and particularly to
analyze the capacity of international points of entry to
implement the IHR.
3. In 2008 the Ministry took two important actions to
implement IHR. First, in January 2008 the Ministry issued a
memo to all appropriate agencies and entities on
implementation of the IHR. Second, on April 13, 2008
Minister of Social Protection Diego Palacio and World Health
Organization country representative Dr. Pier Paolo Balladelli
signed a Declaration regarding the IHR in which Colombia
committed to put in place all actions necessary to implement
the IHR.
4. Alvarez said the Ministry also developed a national
policy on food safety and strengthened public health
laboratories. In addition, Alvarez noted that the GOC has
participated in technical and scientific cooperation
agreements related to the IHR with the neighboring countries
of Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.
BROWNFIELD