A new life for Colombia: How primary prevention is transforming maternal and child health
With diabetes and malnutrition on the rise, Colombia is embracing a comprehensive approach to prevention. The Vida Nueva project integrates health promotion into communities and schools, aiming to reach over 100,000 pregnant women and set a new standard for maternal and child health.
04 January 2026 Zuzanna Dzialowska
A country at a crossroads
In Colombia, the rising tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension has become a public health emergency. Once considered the burden of affluent societies, these conditions now threaten the health and futures of millions across South and Central America. For women and children, the stakes are especially high: metabolic disorders in pregnancy, including gestational diabetes (GDM), can set the stage for lifelong health challenges, both for mothers and their children.
The scale of the problem is stark. According to the International Diabetes Federation, over 3 million adults in Colombia are living with diabetes—a figure projected to rise to 4.3 million by 2050. But beyond general prevalence, hyperglycaemia in pregnancy (HIP) is emerging as a critical concern. In 2024, an estimated 19.7% of live births globally were affected by HIP, with GDM accounting for nearly 80% of these cases.
Yet diabetes is only one part of a broader crisis. As Lina Patricia Zapata, Health and Nutrition Officer at UNICEF Colombia, a collaborating partner on this project, notes, the country faces a “triple burden of malnutrition”: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition, often within the same household or even the same individual. Addressing this complex reality requires more than clinical care; it demands a shift towards health promotion, empowering communities to build healthy pregnancies and healthy childhoods from the ground up.
In the heart of this challenge, a new story is unfolding—one of hope, collaboration, and transformation. WDF-supported project, “Vida Nueva: Healthy Generations for Colombia,” is designed to meet this challenge head-on. By leveraging multisector partnerships, reinforcing the role of community health workers, and embedding prevention into the very fabric of local health and education systems, the project aims to catalyse system change at scale. As Line Bechmann, WDF’s Programme Manager for Colombia observes, “This project represents a significant opportunity to achieve scale and coverage through a comprehensive primary prevention intervention, and it is generating considerable interest in Colombia.”
The foundation of Vida Nueva
The Vida Nueva project is not starting from scratch. It stands on the shoulders of more than a decade of targeted interventions and measurable progress in Colombia’s fight against diabetes and related NCDs. Since 2011, Fundación Vida Nueva (FVN), with support from the World Diabetes Foundation, has been at the forefront of integrating NCD prevention—particularly targeting GDM— into maternal and child health services.
The results speak for themselves. Previous projects led by FVN have screened over 98,000 women for gestational diabetes, enabling early detection and timely intervention. More than 10,000 children have benefited from these initiatives, with 3,000 receiving targeted treatment for overweight or obesity. The programme’s reach extends beyond the gen eral population: it has trained 1,600 healthcare professionals, and 219 healthcare institutions have adopted updated clinical recommendations for the care of diabetes in pregnancy.
The expansion of screening and follow-up care has meant that thousands of women, who might otherwise have gone undiagnosed, have received the support needed to manage their health and safeguard their children’s wellbeing. As Dr. Joaquín Armenta, President of FVN, explains, “Chronic non-communicable diseases are a pandemic in Colombia and the world. The challenge lies both in prevention and early diagnosis. Our programme has shown that with the right support, women and children can avoid the worst consequences of these diseases”.
The current phase of the project is the most ambitious one. The project aims to reach over 100,000 pregnant women across ten departments, update and expand protocols to cover all metabolic disorders in pregnancy—including hypertension, eclampsia, and obesity—and introduce a comprehensive school intervention focused on healthy living and the prevention of malnutrition. As Bechmann notes, “The project now covers 10 departments, representing a population of 28 million—53% of Colombia’s population—including some of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable communities.”
From pregnancy to playground
Community-level interventions are central to this strategy. By reinforcing the role of community health workers (CHW), Vida Nueva ensures that health promotion and NCD prevention reach even the most vulnerable families. These workers are not only the first point of contact for many families, but are also trusted guides who can help translate knowledge into action—encouraging healthy eating, physical activity, and regular health checks. Their work is about delivering information but most importantly it is about building trust, offering support, and empowering communities to take charge of their health.
As Dr Humberto Mendoza Charris, project lead, notes, “Primary health care isn’t just in a doctor’s office—it’s in the community. CHWs help identify at-risk women, guide them to care, and provide ongoing support. Their role is essential for timely intervention and lasting change”.
Lucila Cárdenas, a nursing assistant and community health worker with the Vida Nueva programme, describes her role as both a calling and a lifeline:
“I know almost all the women with gestational diabetes in Barranquilla. I know their stories, their struggles, their dreams. We walk hand in hand with diabetes, and we manage it together. My dream is that all these women, despite their diagnosis, can be happy and healthy.”
Lucila’s story is echoed by many others. Sandra, a mother from Barranquilla, recalls the moment she learned she had GDM:
“I was scared. I didn’t know anything about blood sugar or diabetes. But the foundation visited me at home, explained everything, and helped me change my diet and lifestyle. Now, I pay more attention to my children’s health, and I want them to have a better future.”
These personal connections are vital, especially in communities where health services may be distant or difficult to access. Mothers share healthy habits with their children and neighbours, amplifying the impact.
Parks and public spaces, once underused, are now hubs for exercise and community gatherings. School interventions, supported by CHWs, ensure that healthy habits are reinforced from an early age.
Scaling up for national impact
While the achievements of Vida Nueva are significant, scaling up a comprehensive primary prevention programme across Colombia is not without its challenges. The diversity of the country—geographically, culturally, and socioeconomically—means that a one-size-fits-all approach is not feasible. Urban health centres may have advanced medical facilities, but remote rural and Amazonian areas often face shortages of healthcare professionals, essential medicines, and even basic infrastructure.
One of the most pressing challenges is the shortage of well-trained professionals within communities. In many municipalities, there are not enough physiotherapists, nutritionists, or community health workers to meet the growing demand for prevention and care. This gap is particularly acute in public primary schools, where a lack of physical education teachers means that untrained staff are often responsible for promoting healthy lifestyles among children.
Data collection and monitoring also remain complex, especially in regions with high levels of migration or where health records are fragmented. The inclusion of vulnerable groups—such as Indigenous populations and Venezuelan migrants, who accounted for 8% of births in Colombia in 2023—adds further layers of complexity, but also underscores the importance of an inclusive, adaptable approach.
Despite these obstacles, the momentum behind the Vida Nueva project is undeniable. The iniative has generated substantial support from universities, academics, scientists, government agencies, UNICEF, and PAHO/WHO. There is a shared recognition that health promotion—reaching people before disease takes hold—is the only sustainable path forward.
The opportunities for impact are vast. By strengthening community health workers and forging partnerships across sectors, Vida Nueva is laying the groundwork for system change at scale. The project’s collaborative model ensures that prevention and care are embedded into everyday environments.
As Colombia continues to grapple with the triple burden of malnutrition and the rising tide of NCDs, the lessons learned from FVN offer an inspiration for other countries in the region. With continued investment, political will, and community engagement, the vision of healthy pregnancies, healthy childhoods, and healthy generations is within reach.