Generación Vida Nueva Embarazos Saludables Colombia

Objectives

This project is implementing a life course approach by integrating NCD prevention and care in maternal and child health services by creating healthy school environments.

Approach

This project builds on three successfully completed projects: WDF10-572 and WDF15-955 implemented in Barranquilla and WDF18-1617 implemented in six departments as the first stage of a national Hyperglycaemia in Pregnancy (HIP) programme.

It expands existing HIP protocols developed based on WHO guidance with previous WDF support to include all metabolic disorders in pregnancy (e.g. hypertension, eclampsia, obesity), covering both antenatal and post-partum care. It will also focus on the clinical management of childhood malnutrition, hereby creating explicit linkages between mothers’ health and that of their offspring. Ten departments, of which six are new, representing 28 million Colombians (53% of the population), will be covered.

Advocacy and engagement with national, departmental and municipal authorities will be enhanced alongside strengthened data collection, cost-effectiveness analysis, and the role of community health workers (CHWs) will be reinforced as they are the main entry point to the healthcare system. The project also includes a school component hereby leveraging multisector partnerships to promote healthy nutrition and lifestyle.

Project activities include:

1. Developing a national protocol for the detection and management of metabolic disorders in pregnancy and childhood malnutrition.

2. Strengthening primary health facilities and referral centres through healthcare professional (HCP) training and mentorship, protocol implementation, and provision of basic equipment.

3. Improving data collection at health facility and departmental health secretariat levels by training HCPs in existing health information systems across 200 health facilities to provide adequate information on the metabolic disorders in pregnancy and childhood malnutrition.

4. Integrating healthy childhood strategies into the Institutional Educational Projects (PEI) of targeted schools by developing a national protocol for healthy living and prevention of malnutrition, and strengthening linkages between education and health sectors at local and departmental levels.

5. Conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis of early detection and management of metabolic disorders in pregnancy and evaluating the impact of lifestyle interventions in 100 primary schools.

6. Advocating for a reorientation of maternal and child healthcare services towards more health promotion and NCD prevention.

Expected results

• 2 national protocols developed and nationally endorsed: 1 for the detection and management of metabolic disorders in pregnancy and childhood malnutrition, and 1 school intervention protocol focusing on healthy living and prevention of malnutrition.

• 200 health facilities, 180 at the primary level and 20 at the secondary level, to be strengthened in the detection and management of metabolic disorders in pregnancy and of childhood malnutrition.

• 1,600 HCPs (800 doctors, 500 nurses, 300 other HCPs incl. nutritionists, psychologists, obstetricians, etc.) trained in the protocol for metabolic disorders in pregnancy and childhood malnutrition.

• 3,000 CHWs trained in prevention and care of NCDs, including the links to pregnancy and childhood malnutrition.

• 400 HCPs and administrators trained in better utilising existing health information systems.

• 96,000 pregnant women screened for metabolic disorders in pregnancy, est. 8,000 diagnosed and treated.

• 100 schools are capacitated for the implementation of the approved protocol on healthy living and prevention of malnutrition and equipped with sports and recreational kits.

• 1,000 teachers, administrators, and kiosk owners trained in health literacy.

• 30,000 children benefit from healthier school environments, and 30,000 parents are trained to promote healthy lifestyles and nutrition.

• 2 national/regional conferences to disseminate results on metabolic disorders in pregnancy and childhood malnutrition were organised.

• 150,000 pregnant women and women of reproductive age to be sensitised through a whole-of-family approach.

• 6 national campaigns on World Diabetes Day, World Hypertension Day, and World Nutrition Day to be conducted.

• Project outcomes include changes in the monitoring of NCDs and the availability and accessibility of healthy food options to be assessed at both municipal and departmental levels.