The Health Day, conducted on September 26, 2023, was aimed at children and adolescents belonging to the EH community in Algarrobo in the department of Magdalena, as a collaboration between Factor-H, the University Metropolitana (Barranquilla), University Area Andina (Valledupar), Colegio el Carmen and GREMCAN S.A. (a Colombian occupational heath NGO). The Universidad Metropolitana volunteer department has become our main collaborator in the Caribbean Coast and their services enables a compeehensive health strategy for HD patients and children. The Area Andina University provides legal assistance to guarantee that the insurance companies comply with Colombian law and that affected individuals get the medications they need.
The Algarrobo HD community is largely unknown to the medical community. Approximately 16 families with HD live there, and currently, 23 affected adults and 3 JHD cases are included in our database. This community lives in conditions of extreme duress and Factor-H has become focused on providing healthcare and legal assistance to these families to ensure better access to healthcare.
The objective of the present campaign was to offer the population of boys and girls at risk for HD in the municipality of Algarrobo complementary health and educational services, as well as provide legal aid services. We also welcomed children with disabilities living in the municipality.
The following services were provided to 122 individuals:
- For all kids – General medicine, nutrition, optometry, dentistry and occupational health.
- Complementary services for youth at-risk – pediatrics.
- Complementary services for young people with HD – pediatrics, speech therapy, physiotherapy.
- Health promotion and maintenance/complementary services for adults with HD: internal medicine, nutrition, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational health, optometry.
Table 1. Education in specific protection and early detection program Pyd, Voluntariado UniMetro and occupational health Gremca S.A.
Educational activities | # participants at-risk for HD | # Adults with HD | # kids with disabilities |
Oral health | 106 | 6 | 4 |
Growth & development | 106 | 0 | 4 |
Eye exams | 106 | 6 | 4 |
Table 2. Number of beneficiaries of the primary and complementary services for patients and youth at-risk for HD.
Primary care Population | Nutrition | General Medicine | Optometry | Odontology |
Kids at-risk for HD | 103 | 103 | 47 | 88 |
Kids with HD | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Adults with HD | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Caregivers | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Complementary Services | Pediatric Medicine | Internal Medicine | Phono-audiology | Physioteraphy |
Kids at-risk for HD | 93 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kids with HD | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Adults with HD | 0 | 14 | 6 | 6 |
English 
Spanish 
Portuguese 
