Recently Claudia Perandones and I took our first trip to visit some the affected communities in Colombia. A map of our trip is included here. This was a very important trip for us and for all affected by HD. We met with health officials, township mayors, local patient representatives (Janeth Mosquera and Mariela Campo), and many of the patients and at risk-individuals. It was a thrilling 4 day visit to San Angel and El Dificil (Magdalena), Barranquillas and Juan de Acosta (Atlantico), Bogota and Medellin. We also spoke to physicians and scientists as well as patients from Bogota and Medellin.
We visited the community of San Angel, a community unknown to the world until now. In this area, several thousand at-risk individuals are living in extreme poverty. Hundreds of children at risk under the age of 18 live here, with no running water, electricity, little transportation, and no medical assistance. Roads are unpaved, and possibilities for eudcation and employment are very limited. Factor-H is committed to helping the people of San Luis!
During this visit we also met with Habitat for Humanity in Bogota, and it is likely that the first project (rehabilitation of 5 family houses in Medellin) will soon be a reality!