VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0247/01 0432222
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 122222Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2824
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0047
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000247 
 
SIPDIS 
1TFK@STATE.GOV, WHA/CAR FOR V DE PIRRO AND IO/UNP FOR B NARANJO AND M GARUCKIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV HHS CO PREL HA
SUBJECT: TFHA01: FACILITATING COLOMBIAN ACCEPTANCE OF HAITIAN 
PATIENTS 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary. Embassy Bogota has framed out the procedures to 
facilitate the transfer of Haitian earthquake patients to Colombia 
for long-term post-operative care.  Key points of contact have been 
established with the Government of Colombia (GOC) and the Haitian 
Ministry of Health. Post and GOC officials are collaborating to 
develop a system for patient identification, transfer and long-term 
care in Colombia.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
GOC EVALUATING INTAKE OF HAITIAN PATIENTS 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2. (U) As part of the international relief effort for Haitian 
disaster victims, the Embassy is working to facilitate the 
placement of post-operative Haitian patients in Colombia. Colombia 
was identified as an appropriate recipient country based on its 
health care services and close bilateral relationship with the 
United States. 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) On February 5, Emboffs met with Carlos Ignacio Cuervo 
Valencia, Vice Minister of Social Protection, to discuss Colombia's 
potential role in the growing need for post-operative care for 
Haitian patients.  As a result, the Ministry of Social Protection 
(MSP) is working to identify hospital facilities that have the 
capacity to receive patients. Representatives from the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs (MFA) also attended, and were tasked with 
discerning how the GOC can accept incoming patients and family 
members within the framework of Colombia's laws and regulations. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) The MFA requested that the Embassy send a letter outlining 
the USG's request for collaboration on Haitian patient care.  The 
Deputy Chief of Mission sent the requested letter on 
 
February 11, and the MFA met the same day to internally outline the 
GOC's response. 
 
 
 
POTENTIAL SYSTEM FOR PATIENT IDENTIFICATION, TRANSFER AND CARE 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) A system for patient identification, transfer and care of 
Haitian patients is currently being developed.  Given the 
capacities and expectations of the GOC ministries currently engaged 
in discussions, and the committee for patient management in Haiti, 
the system may evolve as outlined: 
 
 
 
Health Ministry to Identify Hospitals 
 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Dr. Luis Fernando Correa, Coordinator of the MSP 
Emergency Group is tasked with identifying Colombia Hospitals able 
to accept Haitian patients in need of post-operative care. Dr. 
Correa informs the MFA of availability.  As of February 10, Dr. 
Correa had identified up to 20 beds available for Haitian patients 
and was seeking written commitment from the hospitals. 
 
 
 
GOC Coordination with Haitian Officials 
 
--------------------------------------- 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The MFA will lead the GOC's interaction with Government 
of Haiti (GOH) MOH and would be tasked with the following: 
 
 
 
1) The MFA contacts GOH Minister of Health liaison Dr. Jack 
LaFontant, requesting the number of patients and patient condition. 
 
 
 
2) MFA provides for the patients' and accompanying family members' 
non-medical needs including room, board and translation services. 
 
 
 
3) MFA coordinates with GOC Administrative Department of Security 
(DAS) to ensure entry status of the patient and accompanying family 
member. 
 
 
 
4) MFA assesses transportation needs and initiates request with GOC 
Ministry of Defense and/or USG if using Colombia-based assets. 
 
 
 
Haitian Authorities Organize Release of Patients 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
 
 
¶8.  (SBU) GOH MOH identifies patients and approves transfer to 
Colombia. Dr. Jack LaFontant -- appointed by the Haitian Ministry 
of Health (MOH) to liaise with the USNS COMFORT in Port au Prince 
(PauP) -- works directly with USG and NGO community on the Medical 
Review Board to assess patients and identify those for transfer. 
Ron Waldman (USAID) in PauP, also serves on the Medical Review 
Board. 
 
 
 
Transportation of Patients from Haiti to Colombia 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
 
 
¶9.  (SBU) On a case-by-case basis, there are two possible options 
for transporting Haitian patients to Colombia -- one involving 
SOUTHCOM and the second, Colombian air assets: 
 
 
 
1) US SOUTHCOM is currently in Phase 2 of providing assistance to 
Haiti. As such, Department of Defense (DOD) assets can be requested 
on a specific, case by case basis and dispatched via request thru 
Joint Task Force-Haiti. When US SOUTHCOM enters Phase 3, their 
ability to access the required funding lines (Overseas Humanitarian 
Disaster Assistance and Civil Aid) will be greatly reduced. 
 
 
 
2) According to assessments by U.S. Military Group in Colombia, the 
Colombian Military has the capability to configure existing assets 
for MEDEVAC airlift (mass casualty configuration) and provide the 
appropriate flight-medical crew for up to 30 patients.  For the 
transfer of one or two patients, the Colombian Air Force has two 
Beech King Air 350 air ambulances in their inventory (pressurized) 
and four Cessna Caravan air ambulances (non-pressurized).  To 
access these resources, a request for MEDEVAC support must go to 
the Ministry of Defense. 
 
 
 
CONTACT INFORMATION 
 
 
-------------------- 
 
 
 
Jorge Hernan Jaramillo Carmona 
 
First Secretary - Central America and Caribbean Affairs Desk 
 
First Geographic Directorate for the Americas 
 
Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
 
Tel. (571)-3814000 Ext 1722. 
 
Direct Line (571)-3814142 
 
jorge.jaramillo@cancilleria.gov.co 
 
 
 
Dr. Luis Fernando Correa 
 
Coordinator of the MSP Emergency Group 
 
Colombian Ministry of Social Protection 
 
Tel 571- 3305071 
 
3305000 ext 1710 
 
lcorrea@minproteccionsocial.gov.co 
 
 
 
Dr. Jack LaFontant 
 
Haitian Ministry of Health Liaison for USNS COMFORT and USG 
 
Coordination 
 
PauP Medical Review Board 
 
Cell(s): 3401-1167, 3555-7692 
 
jglafontant@msn.com 
 
 
 
Ron Waldman 
 
USAID in PauP 
 
PauP Medical Review Board 
 
rwaldman@usaid.gov 
BROWNFIELD