Texas Children's Global Health Fundación Baylor Colombia

The Baylor Foundation Colombia pediatrics program has been attending to children in the department of La Guajira for since 2014. It aims to promote the health and well-being of Wayuú children through the promotion and prevention of health problems, early diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and encouraging development and a healthy lifestyle through education.

In 2019, we attended 929 children, promoted healthy lifestyles, and helped mothers learn about the importance of breastfeeding. We also have helped parents detect early warning signs in children, contributing to the decrease in morbidity and mortality by referring them to early consultation.

Since 2017, Baylor Foundation Colombia has operated the Nutritional Recovery Center in Manaure, in coordination with the National Family Welfare System, in an effort to reduce malnutrition in children under five. Intramural care is offered to children without additional pathologies to recover their nutritional state. An interdisciplinary team and support staff comprised of general practitioners, nutritionists, social workers, and pediatricians collaborate to provide medical care, nutritional supplements, and for promoting nutritional and health guidance.

This approach addresses the child within various social, economic, and political contexts and allows us to provide comprehensive care that takes into account the diversity of our patients. Once healthy, children are referred to early childhood programs managed by the Colombian Family Welfare Institute, where they are able to develop alongside their peers.

Alimercambio is a project that was developed with the help of Bancalimentos, Caminos de Identidad Foundation, Foment Bank of Latin America “CAF,” Éxito, and Chevron to implement a self-managed and sustainable triple impact model (health, economy and environment) of food security and environmental recovery, by allowing vulnerable populations in Manaure to exchange recyclable materials for food.

The project began in 2019 with recycling in Manaure and expanded in the Mayapo District with the opening of a rural service point. During 2019, nine tons of recyclable materials were collected and 1,006 people participated in the exchange.

The Wayúu Family Planning program is implemented at the Baylor Foundation Colombia Health Center in the rural Jieyusirra community, seeking to raise awareness among Wayúu women and families about family planning. We are helping to increase the quality of life of the Wayúu communities by incorporating new approaches, reducing costs and promoting gender equity.

The target population for this project includes women of childbearing age, multiparous women and women of high obstetric risk and served 829 women in 2019.

Baylor Foundation Colombia provides services at the Jieyusirra Health Center, in Manaure and the “El Pájaro” region. In 2019, obstetrics and gynecology services were added to help reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, improve the nutrition of indigenous women and antenatal development.

The Obstetrics & Gynecology team evaluates pregnant women to identify pregnancy risk factors and pathologies associated with each pregnancy. Nearlhy 1,000 patients accessed services and 820 obstetric ultrasounds were performed.