Colombia: Supporting the Health of Pregnant Women

In February 2024, we launched a medical project in Bogota aimed at improving access to healthcare for pregnant women, primarily migrants from Venezuela. The initiative is being carried out in the Kennedy district in cooperation with the CEDID Kennedy Center (Centro Distrital para la Integración y Derechos del Migrante y Refugiado) and the Bogota Health Secretariat (Secretaría de Salud de Bogotá).

Each month, 120 women have the opportunity to receive free gynecological care, including ultrasound examinations, laboratory tests, and screenings for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis. If syphilis is detected, patients receive immediate free antibiotic treatment, while women diagnosed with HIV are referred to public hospitals in Bogota for further specialized care. Additionally, all patients undergo tests for diabetes and blood morphology.

– We want every woman who comes to this center to be examined by a gynecologist and tested for syphilis, hepatitis, and AIDS five days a week. If any of these diseases are detected, we will provide treatment – says Małgorzata Olasińska-Chart from the Polish Medical Mission – We are grateful to our donors for enabling us to carry out such vital projects that save lives, especially for people in extreme poverty.

To safeguard the health of expectant mothers, we also provide vitamin supplements, iron, and antibiotics in cases of other infections or fungal diseases. Our goal is not only to improve access to basic medical examinations but also to ensure the early detection of health threats and the prevention of complications.

Collaboration with the Bogota Health Secretariat is crucial to the success of this project. Women who are not covered by the healthcare system gain access to public health services. As a result, the PMM project contributes to reducing the spread of HIV and improving health security within migrant communities. The project will continue until the end of 2025. Our efforts align with the broader mission of supporting migrant communities and raising healthcare standards in the region.