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Key Points
We were able to strengthen and streamline the maternal and perinatal care pathway (RIAMP) in this municipality in Cauca through collaboration with teams from the El Bordo ESE and the local Department of Social Development. Through planning meetings and technical support, we implemented audit and self-assessment tools—which helped identify actual gaps in existing capacity—and used the resulting assessment to strengthen human resources. This was achieved through hybrid training sessions on topics such as contraception, preconception care, and obstetric emergencies, among others.
We also facilitated the creation of clinical protocols for each stage of the care pathway—from preconception to the newborn—aligned with national regulations. Twelve community leaders enriched this process by interviewing service users, which allowed us to identify critical barriers—for pregnant women, their families, and health personnel—as well as the importance of integrating traditional knowledge, such as that of midwives and traditional healers.
We developed a technological innovation component that ensures the sustainability of the program: we implemented dashboards in Power BI—a business intelligence tool—for the georeferencing of pregnant women. Additionally, we created an Excel system with pre-pregnancy risk alerts. These advancements facilitate the tracking of missed appointments and streamline management with insurance providers.
Finally, we’ve strengthened local communication through design and artificial intelligence workshops, enabling municipal teams to create their own educational materials and ensuring that the message of care resonates in the local language.
Why are we carrying out this project?
Located 85 kilometers from Popayán, the municipality of Patía is a true cultural melting pot: there, African-descendant heritage intertwines with mestizo, rural, Indigenous, and migrant traditions. But this cultural richness faces two major challenges: the constant fear caused by drug trafficking and the armed conflict—which persists with its curfews and violent threats—as well as geographical barriers that limit mobility and access. All of this poses challenges for pregnant women and their families, for whom the “golden hour”—the critical first 60 minutes of a medical emergency—is a race against time. Consequently, it was a challenge for Patía to implement Resolution 3280 of 2018, which establishes the technical and operational guidelines for maternal and perinatal health care in Colombia.
Who contributed to this effort?
The multidisciplinary team from Sinergias, ESE El Bordo, and the Municipal Government, with funding from Lever for Change and the Maternal and Child Health Award.
