After touring the area, Jaramillo explained his commitment to the Embera people to start off by rolling out the health reform.

In statements to Colombia Hoy Radio, the news presidential program, the health minister said, “We´re going to arrive in Kemberde with our doctors, with our nurses; we´re going to arrive with prevention, promotion and health care.”

Alfonso Jaramillo noted that the assistance provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Colombia has healped his country´s Health Ministry to have taken 4,000 rapid tests in order to detect malaria cases and distributed 198 kg of medications to confront the disease and others.

A team of health professionals remains in the communtiy to treat malaria-infected patients and to provide early healthcare, Jaramillo added.

Health authorities expect to assist as many as 2,500 malaria cases in the indigenous peoples living in far-flung areas including Kemberde, Chifa, Dokabu, Parido, Mentuara, Marruecos, Lumade, Bichukera, Bichubara, Guayabal and Sinai.

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