SierraCol Energy and Fundación Cardioinfantil form an alliance to care for the hearts of children in Arauca

• The alliance is part of the “Gift a Life” program of the Cardioinfantil Foundation – LaCardio, to which SierraCol Energy has joined to help the hearts of children in the department of Arauca beat stronger and possible pathologies can be detected early.

• Throughout its 50 years, the Cardioinfantil Foundation has benefited more than 16,000 children suffering from cardiovascular diseases in more than 350 municipalities in Colombia.

The Cardioinfantil Foundation and SierraCol Energy celebrate an alliance that will benefit the children of the department of Arauca, allowing the heart route to arrive for the first time with the “Gift a Life” program to the municipality of Arauca, on November 24 and 25, to carry out a cardiovascular diagnosis day for children aged 0 to 17 years. The event will take place at the facilities of the El Alcaraván Foundation, a foundation of Ecopetrol and SierraCol Energy, located at Calle 18 # 43-65, Playitas sector. For this purpose, registrations will be received for the assessment of children at the phone number 3174400675.

“We are deeply proud to be part of this initiative alongside the Cardioinfantil Foundation to carry out cardiovascular assessments of children in the Department of Arauca. In this way, we reaffirm our commitment to community health and the well-being of future generations. We are constantly seeking allies like LaCardio that allow us to bring well-being and improve the quality of life of our neighbors. Our El Alcaraván Foundation will provide its facilities to be used as clinics during the two days of the event,” said Bernardo Ortiz, president of SierraCol Energy.

In Colombia, nine out of every 1,000 children are born with heart problems, of which approximately half come from low-income families. Early identification allows for timely treatment and saves more lives. This is why SierraCol Energy and LaCardio, within the framework of the alliance, in addition to carrying out the cardiovascular diagnosis brigade, will develop joint work to highlight the issues that the Cardioinfantil Foundation addresses in the country related to heart diseases, which continue to be the leading cause of death in Colombia and the world today.

“Caring for the heart of the country and especially for low-income children with cardiovascular problems has been our banner for 50 years, and being able to reach more departments in the country today, thanks to companies like SierraCol Energy that believe and join to change the lives not only of children but also of their families, is very valuable to us. We are celebrating 50 years, and the best way to celebrate it is by doing what we know how to do: caring for health and continuing to reach new regions so that more hearts beat stronger,” commented Dr. Juan Gabriel Cendales, executive director of the Cardioinfantil Foundation.

“During these two days, children from the region will be received by the nursing team for vital sign checks, followed by a pediatric consultation. In cases where necessary, they will be evaluated by pediatric cardiologists who, through examinations, will determine the medical need or treatment to be carried out within or outside the region. Subsequently, through the “Gift a Life” Program, prioritized cases will be referred to the Cardioinfantil Foundation in the city of Bogotá to complement their treatment. Our mission does not stop, and day by day we work to provide comprehensive care that supports transportation, accommodation, food, and care not only for the patient but also for their companion,” adds Dr. Cendales.

How to know if your child may have a heart problem?

Alberto Guerra, pediatric cardiologist at the Cardioinfantil Foundation, indicates that timely consultation can be decisive for the lives of the little ones, which is why he explains the warning signs that parents should keep in mind:

• Purple color of the skin, lips, nails, and ears
• Delay in weight and height
• When the doctor indicates that there is a heart murmur
• Chest pain or fainting at any age
• Fatigue, tiredness, or sweating during breastfeeding
• Frequent hospitalizations for respiratory infections (Pneumonia)
• Family history of murmurs or congenital heart disease
• Unexplained death in relatives under 50 years old

About congenital heart diseases (Data from Fundación Cardioinfantil- LaCardio)

• In Colombia, around 5,000 children are born each year with congenital heart diseases, being one of the leading causes of death in children under one year old.
• In the country, of the total number of children diagnosed with this condition, a minimum of 2,500 surgeries/year is required, in addition to the surgeries necessary for those patients who survive beyond the first year of life. That is to say, at least 5,000 surgeries related to congenital heart diseases are required in the country.
• Of these, approximately 50% come from low-income families, not including the number of minors with pre-existing heart conditions who are underdiagnosed.

About SierraCol Energy

SierraCol Energy Arauca, LLC (SierraCol) is an exploration and production organization of hydrocarbons, committed to the protection of the natural environment, the safety and health of its employees, the quality of life of neighboring communities, and respect for Human Rights. It operates the Caño Limón and Caricare fields, among others, in the department of Arauca.
www.sierracolenergy.com

About Fundación Cardioinfantil-LaCardio

The Fundación Cardioinfantil-LaCardio is a private non-profit institution, founded in 1973 by brothers Reinaldo and Camilo Cabrera Polanía. It is one of the few Colombian institutions internationally accredited by the Joint Commission International and, since 2015, is recognized as a University Hospital by the Intersectoral Committee for Human Talent in Health, complying with the Ministries of Health and Education of Colombia.

In turn, according to the 2021 ranking by AméricaEconomía magazine, the institution ranks as one of the 5 best hospitals in Latin America. This ranking evaluates processes and key indicators such as Patient Safety and Dignity, human capital, capacity, and knowledge management, and according to the Merco Social Responsibility-ESG ranking, Fundación Cardioinfantil-LaCardio is the number 1 company in the health sector and 14th in the overall ranking. For more information, you can consult www.lacardio.org