Colombia drives change for children living with NCDs!

It is estimated that one in four children live with a non-communicable disease (NCD).

On 10 March 2024, one childhood NCD Community in Colombia changed forever…

Thanks to inspirational leadership at Fundación Cardio Infantil, La Cardio in Bogotáthe and with the brilliant team at SiEndo Foundation, the Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) Community of Colombia came together for the first time for education, support and sharing. 

As active members of the WHO GCM/NCDs @MATES4Kids (Maximising Access To Essential Supplies for Children) Community of Practice (CoP), and leveraging a @MATES4Kids Community Development Grant, the local team in Bogotá worked solidly for about twelve months to prepare for the big day. Meaningful engagement of the CAH Community in all elements of the planning and implementation of this event was a critical success factor. Informed by the Strategic Framework for Action and five pillars of CLAN (Caring & Living As Neighbours), as well as CLAN’s Club Meeting Checklist, the local planning team ensured every aspect of the event focused on meeting the needs and priorities of the CAH Community.

Attended by over 70 people (representing 34 families), and assisted by an incredible team of 20 volunteers, this event proved an enormous success. Interactive games and educational activities helped the children learn more about CAH whilst making new friends. As the children played outside, parents gratefully made the most of the quiet time they needed to attend talks delivered by experts in the field of CAH and child wellbeing. Novel tools, developed by the planning team, were shared with families, and included flowcharts and brochures to support navigation of Colombia’s health system, as well as child-friendly rights flyers emphasing the rights of every child living with CAH to life and health. Financial contributions to cover the cost of travel and food on the day ensured families living in even the most vulnerable circumstances were supported to attend.

Several days after the event, Dr Paola Duran and one of the CAH Community members, Anghela, shared a powerful presentation at the CLAN and @MATES4Kids side event at the 68th Session of the UN Women Commission on the Status of Women, reporting back to the CoP on all they had experienced and learned. Anghela also prepared an inspirational video sharing the profound impact the CAH Club meeting has already had on the lives of not just herself, but everyone who attended. 

This inaugural Club meeting is just the start of new directions for the CAH Community of Colombia. Findings from a comprehensive Health Needs Assessment conducted on the day will inform future efforts, and the @MATES4Kids CoP is grateful to the team in Colombia for generously sharing the many tools, resources and learnings emerging from this event so that together we can fast-track change for the global CAH Community. 

Huge congratulations and thanks to everyone involved!