The heartbreaking reality of babies in Cartagena

We have the task of guiding our adolescent mothers in their role as mothers, that is why we have academic spaces to strengthen the emotional bond. In this way, through the module "Maternal Role" we advance some activities to ensure that their children have an adequate development and harmonious growth.

In Cartagena:

Adolescent mothers receive accompaniment and guidance through the module in Maternal Role, strengthening their knowledge in:

• Bonding and care

• Nutrition in children

• Autonomy in feeding children

• Importance of preventive medical check-ups and follow-up to minimize illnesses

• Prevention of accidents at home

This trimester at the Integral Child Development Center (CIDI) we have created some strategies so that the children of our beneficiaries feel safe in their new environment. We currently serve 50 babies a day, however, there are 120 babies between 6 and 24 months enrolled.

We conducted 4 talks with teenage mothers on topics related to symptoms of acute respiratory infections, management of flu-like conditions, healthy bonding between mother and child, and reinforcement of CIDI norms.

Through the teaching-service agreement established with the Universidad San Buenaventura in Cartagena and the Physiotherapy faculty, a therapeutic plan was established for each child, based on the babies' initial situation and taking into account the findings of the application of the Abbreviated Developmental Scale EAD. This will allow us to follow up the integral development of the children and detect early warnings.

La Juanfe carries out training activities to strengthen the maternal role of teenage mothers, to facilitate children to receive emotional and affective care from their mother to achieve their correct development.

Through the maternal role module, adolescent mothers were accompanied and guided in the exercise of their early motherhood with the aim of strengthening the emotional bond between mother and child. Likewise, the children belonging to our Integral Child Development Center received care and stimulation according to their age.

The thematic axes worked in maternal role module were:

•Good deal

•Proper stimulation and baby reflexes

•Vaccination scheme and growth and development curve.

Achievements:

•We have made young women respectful and dignified towards their children.

•We achieved coordination with the programs of Bacteriology and physiotherapy of the University of San Buenaventura, in order to provide them with knowledge on topics of interest in child care and self-care of mothers.

Integral Child Development Center - CIDI

In addition, in 2022, our Integral Child Development Centre resumed operations after two years of cessation of activities and we had to work on strategies for adaptation to space and social development of children.

•100% of the children participated in music therapy sessions, stimulating in the baby logical thinking, concentration and language.

•We achieved that 100% of the children belonging to the CIDI program had advances in the socio-affective dimensions, language, cognitive and motor skills.

•100% of children achieved advances in the communicative dimension, achieving gestural interaction and paraphrasing.