Every child deserves the opportunity to start life with the care they need. That belief is at the heart of the Global Health Initiative, a growing network dedicated to improving the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of congenital heart disease across Colombia.
In Colombia, approximately 8 out of every 1,000 live births are affected by congenital heart disease, meaning thousands of newborns may be at risk each year. Early detection can make a critical difference by connecting children and their families with the care they need at the right time.
The Global Health Initiative is building a complete continuum of care. The journey begins with newborn screening, followed by diagnostic confirmation, specialized transportation, treatment, and follow up. This connected approach helps ensure that identifying a heart condition is not the end of the process, but the beginning of a pathway toward specialized care.
Today, the initiative has reached 62 active sites across 13 regions of Colombia, with 38 additional sites coming online as the network continues to expand.
One of the most exciting parts of this growth is our expansion into two new regions: Orinoquía and the Amazon region.
In Amazonas, beginning in Leticia, Global Health Initiative is establishing its first foothold in the Amazon, creating new opportunities to connect children and families in this region with specialized cardiac care.
In Orinoquía, the initiative is extending its reach to Colombia’s eastern plains, bringing the vision of a connected national network to more communities.
This expansion represents more than adding locations to a map. It means creating connections between healthcare professionals, hospitals, technology, transportation, and specialized centers so that geography does not have to determine access to care.
The results demonstrate the growing reach of this initiative.
Through July 2026, Global Health Initiative has screened 203,202 newborns, confirmed 301 congenital heart conditions, and supported 44 congenital heart disease surgeries since the program began in 2019.
The initiative is also investing in the people who make this care possible. More than 1,453 healthcare professionals have been trained, while standardized protocols, educational materials, and a national outcomes registry are helping strengthen the healthcare network.
The transportation component is another important part of the model. Equipped ambulances connect maternity hospitals with tertiary care centers, helping reduce the time children spend waiting for specialized care. The program reported a 62 percent reduction in response and transfer times and a 43 percent reduction in bed management delays during the period measured.
Our vision is to continue expanding this network and move toward a future where detection and specialized cardiac care are more accessible to children throughout Colombia.
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For more information: info@findaway4kids.org
More about Global Health Initiative: https://www.findaway4kids.org