This was confirmed by the key participants of the sixth Medical and Surgical Brigade carried out by GeoPark, with the support of the Colombian Civil Air Patrol, the Local Hospital, and the Mayor’s Office of Tauramena, in Casanare, on June 27 and 28 of this year.
Their neighbors—the communities within their areas of influence, in this case from the municipality of Tauramena—shared deeply moving testimonies that fill the heart with joy. One such story is that of Edilma María Mier Rizo, who for some time had been unable to see due to cataracts, but who today, with great happiness, told us:
“Thanks to the surgery on my second eye, I was able to see my children again, to see life again. I can see clearly now—I can see my little home, my belongings. I am truly very happy and grateful to God and to everyone who made this possible.”
At 66 years old, and despite the fact that registration spots were already full when she signed up, the medical staff and all those who supported and worked on the brigade can now take comfort in knowing they restored light to Doña Edilma’s eyes.
During the course of this brigade, 400 people—including women, men, older adults, and children from rural areas and the urban zone of the folkloric municipality of Tauramena—were able to access healthcare services in specialties such as gynecology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, optometry, ultrasound exams, and family planning, in addition to outpatient surgical procedures.
In total, more than 40 volunteer healthcare professionals participated, providing 475 medical consultations and performing 72 surgical interventions, along with the delivery of 230 prescription eyeglasses as a result of ophthalmology consultations.
The testimonies are as human and meaningful as that of Jorge Alberto Verdugo González, who, after also suffering from cataracts, is now recovering very well nearly 20 days after his surgery. His voice reflects happiness and gratitude toward those who made his procedure possible:
“For me, this has been very beneficial, because I had been struggling with my health insurance provider to get the surgery. Today, I feel very satisfied—I am recovering and I am happy with the professionalism of the doctors, nurses, and all the staff. My vision was very deteriorated; they wouldn’t even update my prescription. So when I learned about the brigade, I didn’t hesitate for a moment to sign up. Thank God, I am very satisfied with the surgery they performed.”
“Ensuring access to basic healthcare services is essential to helping our neighboring communities achieve better living conditions. That is why, together with the Colombian Civil Air Patrol, we work to bring specialized medical care to hundreds of people who need it. We are grateful to all the volunteers who made this initiative possible,” said Aníbal Fernández de Soto, Director of Nature and Neighbors at GeoPark.
Another story worth highlighting is that of Estefanía Estrada Saldaña, the mother of a six-year-old boy who was diagnosed with brain cancer:
“I am deeply grateful to everyone. A year ago, my son had a pediatric appointment during the previous brigade because of a medical condition we couldn’t identify. Thanks to a referral they made to a tertiary-level hospital, in September we were informed that my son had brain cancer. This year, the same pediatrician evaluated him again and was very happy to know that my child is now receiving the care he needed. He is currently undergoing proper medical treatment. If we hadn’t attended the brigade a year ago, we would not have known about the illness my son was going through—especially considering that, unfortunately, appointments through the health insurance system take a very long time.”
Mrs. Estefanía also received medical care during the brigade and brought her two children to be evaluated as well. Thankfully, her own medical condition has since been resolved.
Through the Medical and Surgical Brigades carried out by GeoPark in partnership with the Colombian Civil Air Patrol in the territories where their neighboring communities live, more than 8,300 people have benefited since 2017. This confirms that the alliance has enabled free and timely access to specialized medical services in Casanare—and, most importantly, has transformed and improved countless lives.
