Exploring Collaboration between UM and UTCH

The Director of the Caribbean & Latin America Research, University of Minnesota School of Public Health Dr. Remi Douah met today with the Sowing Seeds for the Future Foundation (SS4FF) Representatives Dr. Jim Gomez and Claudia Baldwin, to discuss future collaboration between the Technological University of Chocó, Colombia and the University of Minnesota.  

The SS4FF mission is to help the children of Chocó, Colombia who suffer malnutrition, anemia, and have a child mortality rate, which is five times higher than the rest of the country.  Seven out of ten children are malnourished and anemic.  In March, 2012, RCN reported that children between 5 and 10 years old were committing suicide due to hunger.  75% of the population lives in the margin of poverty surrounded by mines of gold, platinum and uranium.

The plan is to obtain data and comparisons of information of children in other areas of Colombia ie. Neiva and Choco, and to analyze the types of services that are needed to meet the needs of the population.

Left Dr. Jim Gomez,  Right Dr. Remi Douah