With the campaign Sailing to the Heart of the Atrato led by the Colombian Navy, for seven days, aboard the River Patrol Boat ARC Guillermo Londoño, 136 people including volunteers, media and Sailors of the Naval Institution, traveled 544 kilometers of the Atrato River, bringing the institutional presence closer to the communities of Bellavista, Carmen del Darién, Riosucio and Vigía del Fuerte.
In this campaign, more than 5,533 people were assisted, mostly members of indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, who accessed more than 13 thousand specialized medical services, including gynecology, general medicine, nutrition, dentistry, optometry and pediatrics. For their part, veterinary doctors who complemented the humanitarian campaign provided care to 67 dogs and 23 cats.
In addition, the attendees benefited of the distribution of medicines according to medical recipes, 4,170 kilograms of Bienestarina (food supplement) powder, 2.4 tons in different donations, including wardrobe items and toys, and 300 school kits, were given to the students of the César Conto School, in the municipality of Bellavista, formerly Bojayá -Chocó.
In each of the activities, awareness-raising talks were held aimed at people in general focused on the prevention of unwanted pregnancies in young people, the consumption of psychoactive substances and alcohol, forced recruitment, as well as campaigns to prevent the use of firearms, emphasizing that study, sport and recreation are tools that contribute to the construction of a future in harmony and peace. Similarly, recreation, sports and music with volunteer artists of the regions were held.
On this occasion, four walk assistance devices with wheels were in the same way donated to people who had limitations in their mobility, one of these was distributed to Mrs. Aurelina Romaña Chaverra, a 53-year-old woman of the village of Buchadó - department of Chocó, who traveled for 4 hours to cross the impetuous Atrato River to the Vigía del Fuerte municipality, in order to receive specialized medical assistance, since she recently suffered a stroke that left sequelae in her legs.
“I thank the Colombian Navy for contributing to the transformation and improvement of the quality of life of people in vulnerable conditions.” Aureliana Romaña expressed among laughter and tears of happiness.
The Navigating to the Atrato's Heart campaign was made possible thanks to the coordination of efforts conducted by the Foundation Corazón y Acción por Colombia, RTVC, National Learning Service -SENA, Colombian Institute of Family Wellbeing -ICBF, Atrato Medio Antioqueño Hospital, Bogotá Food Bank, Colombian Civil Defense, Colgate, Christian Church El Lugar de Su Presencia, Ríos de Agua Viva Christian Church, Family Commissariat, People's Representative for local human rights, Offices of the Elderly, Secretariats of Health, advisory offices of the Development Programs with Territorial Focus -PDET in the departments of Chocó and Antioquia.
Source: Press, National Navy
