Health interventions used by major resource companies operating in Colombia

Resource extractive companies are providing an increasing amount of information about their corporate social responsibility (CSR) interventions, which often include diverse health initiatives provided to mine workers, mine workers׳ families and neighboring communities. This paper undertakes a review of the health initiatives of Colombia׳s leading mining, oil and gas companies, reported between 2005 and 2012. These interventions aim to improve the life of individuals both at work and in neighboring communities (including artisanal miners). Outcomes of this study were that companies preferred to use interventions that prevent disease rather than diagnose or treat it. Sixty percent of interventions targeted the health of mine workers, another 14% of interventions were directed to improve the health of the families of mine workers and the remaining 25% addressed the health needs of the wider community. Non-communicable diseases now account for more deaths than communicable diseases in Colombia, and perhaps in response to this we found that most interventions were associated with the control of non-communicable diseases (75%). Companies were more likely to address the health needs of indigenous peoples, if large populations of indigenous people lived near to their sites.All of the Colombian districts with resource extraction activity had evidence of considerable levels of poverty and studied resource companies were attempting to alleviate health-related needs to some degree, above the provision of royalties to central or regional government. Artisanal mining plays an important role in the Colombian economy, and these miners are exposed to a multitude of health and safety risks. One larger scale gold mining company reported interventions that target improving conditions of artisanal miners. This study highlights the importance of all stakeholders in the economy (including MOG companies, local district governments, NGOs, etc.) actively participating in developing and implementing health interventions to improve the human development of communities impacted by resource extraction activities in Colombia.