Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and delegates from Italy inaugurated on Monday a hospital-vessel to assist poor families in Buenaventura Port in the Pacific Ocean.

The program is funded by Colombian and Italian non-governmental organizations.

"It is a social health company," Uribe said at the ceremony. The vessel will start traveling on June 27.

The vessel was also funded by "Colombia wants to see you," a foundation soccer player Ivan Cordoba established with 1.5 million U.S. dollars.

Medical services, including pediatrics, surgery, gynecology, psychology and odontology, will be provided on the vessel to some 2,500 people from Buenaventura and nearby town, most of whom are of Afro-Colombian origins.

The vessels will have the written label of "Life without drug, a global effort," to take the message to residents in the region, through which drug traffickers smuggle cocaine to Central America.

Source: Xinhua