Among the medical services provided, there were 1,419 of internal medicine, 1,942 of general medicine, 1,072 of pediatrics, 798 of dentistry, 690 of optometry, 743 of psychology, 311 mammograms, 480 pap smears, 247 subdermal implants, 421 vaccinations and 227 examinations of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
15,520 medicines, 5,700 units of Bienestarina (food supplement), 1,200 school kits, 1,200 oral kits, 5,400 snacks and 270 bags of certified corn seeds were distributed to families and children and adolescents of the communities bordering the Canal del Dique.
Thanks to the coordination of inter-institutional efforts conducted by the public, private sector and non-governmental organizations, the Eighth Voyage of Sailing to the Heart of the Magdalena 2023 was carried out on board the Amphibious Landing Ship ARC Golfo de Urabá, which led to benefit 9,614 people of the most vulnerable communities of the villages of Santa Coa, Río Nuevo and San Francisco de Loba, as well as the municipalities of San Martín de Loba, Hatillo de Loba in the department of Bolívar and the municipality of La Gloria in the department of Cesar with medical services of different specialties, and social and recreational activities.
The eighth voyage that took place from May 25 to June 09, provided services of internal medicine, general medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, optometry, psychology, cytology exams, mammograms, subdermal implants, vaccination and exams to detect sexually transmitted diseases. In the same way, among the social services provided, legal and migration advice, instructions on life project, sexual and reproductive health, technical assistance to the victims' table, services of families in action, elderly and solidarity income by the Department for Social Prosperity –DPS and Military Gaula prevention activities took place.
For its part, the ARC Golfo de Urabá Ship, with a crew of about 50 men belonging to the Caribbean Naval Force and with the personnel of the participating public and private institutions, finally arrived in the municipality of Magangué - Bolívar, where the closing ceremony was held with the distribution of certificates in gratitude for its important humanitarian assistance operation. In the same way, a farewell breakfast was provided on board the Navy Infantry River Battalion No.17.
Thus, the eighth event led to reaching geographical sites whose access is limited by the Magdalena River, where within the framework of cooperation and comprehensive development, the Colombian Navy continues to be one of the main coordinators of logistical support and it manages services of the State for the inhabitants of these vulnerable areas of the Colombian Caribbean.
This journey was made possible thanks to the active participation of the Colombian Navy, the Bolivar Governorate, the Cesar Governorate, the Elyon Yireh Corporation, the Colombian Institute of Family Wellbeing – ICBF, Migración Colombia, the Procaps Foundation, the Unidos Foundation, Ser Social Foundation, the University of Sinú, the Free University, SuperGiros and the support of the staff of Professional Officers of the Naval Reserve of Cartagena and Barranquilla.
Source: Press - Navy of Colombia
