Colombia faces challenges in public health after the rebound of communicable diseases

Colombia is going through a critical stage in public health, characterized by the convergence of epidemiological, demographic, social and environmental factors. In this context, the Thought Center thus we go in Health presented its Annual Public Health Report 2025, a document based on official figures, that analyzes tracestock events of the sector and formulates alerts on the current situation in different regions of the country.

The report states that public health challenges require intersectoral and integral approaches, since these cannot be continued in a fragmented way. They warn that health should be understood from all its determinants: social, economic, cultural and environmental.

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One of the most outstanding points of the report is the situation of maternal-infantile health, where, despite progress, marked inequalities persist. Child malnutrition, for example, He has shown a sustained decrease in the last two decades, passing a rate of 14.87 cases per 100,000 children under five to 8.78 in 2023. Although by 2024 a lower figure is projected, but the data are still preliminary.

Regarding perinatal mortality and in children under five, the document records that it has also declined significantly, since between 2005 and 2023 they were reduced by 56% and 50%, respectively.
Nevertheless, These indicators continue to show geographical disparities, with departments such as La Guajira where malnutrition continues to be one of the main causes of child death. It is even mentioned that in this department “the mortality associated with malnutrition exceeds that caused by respiratory and diarrheal diseases.”

Now, in the face of maternal mortality, both in its early and late phase, a decreasing trend is shown after the increase registered during the pandemic. However, this way we are in health warns that “The figures must be interpreted with caution”, Given the differentiated impact of the health emergency in the different territories and the limitations in the quality of the registration in rural areas.

For example, during 2021 the largest number of cases of mothers death in the country were recorded. In that year there were 729 cases of maternal mortality to one year, while in the case of 42 days there were a total of 513 deaths. That in pandemic situation. In contrast, by 2023 there were 415 deaths of mothers to one year, but the figure also descends in the case of maternal mortality to 42 days to a total of 242. and in 2024 the downward trend seems to be maintained.

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Child malnutrition went from 14.87 to 8.78 cases per 100,000 children under five between 2005 and 2023.

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Vector transmitted diseases

The second axis of the report refers to vector -transmitted diseases, which highlights the historical rebound of dengue. In 2024, more than 320,000 cases were registered, with about 3,000 classified as serious, in an epidemic context driven by the El Niño phenomenon. This volume represents an increase of 154% compared to the previous year. Although the final figure is still preliminary, it constitutes the highest peak of the historical series.

Additionally, Yellow fever motivated the declaration of health emergency in 2025. Until June 93 cases had been reported, almost four times more than in 2024with a total of 37 deaths, especially in the departments of Tolima and Putumayo. “The situation requires an urgent response of vaccination and vector control,” says the report.

In the plane of respiratory diseases, Tuberculosis recorded 21,418 cases in 2024, an increase of 6% compared to 2023. Although it is not an abrupt rebound, the data reveals an upward trend that worries analysts in the sector, especially for their association with conditions of poverty and overcrowding.

As for Covid, cases have decreased significantly. By 2025, until the epidemiological week 28, 4,495 cases and 74 deaths were notified. The Jn.1 variant continues to be the predominant in circulation.

Another of the issues evaluated are the diseases transmitted by water and food (ETAS). Acute diarrheal disease (EDA) in children under five years of age presented a slight reduction in 2024, after years of sustained increases. The trend is not yet conclusive because they are preliminary data, but between 2005 and 2023 there is a 68%decrease, 10 points less than the accumulated reduction until 2017. This behavior suggests that progress in this front has been slower in recent years.

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The vaccination coverage against HPV is 60%, far from 90% recommended by WHO.

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This is how sexually transmitted infections behave

As for sexually transmitted infections, the document underlines the situation of HIV and syphilis. The prevalence of HIV continues to grow, with concentration in young adults from urban areas. “The prevalence of HIV in Colombia has increased, from 82,856 cases in 2017 to 123,490 in 2020. The epidemic is concentrated in main cities and mainly affects young adults”, They say.

Although the mortality associated with this infection shows a slight downward trend, the report warns about structural failures in early diagnosis and continuous access to treatment. “The persistence of more than 2,000 HIV annual deaths in Colombia shows that the policies implemented have failed to effectively reduce the mortality associated with this disease”, Stand out.

In the case of gestational and congenital syphilis, 2024 data report more than 9,840 cases, which represents a slight decrease with respect to 2023. However, the current levels exceed those of the prepaid period, which shows persistent deficiencies in prenatal controls.

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The gestational and congenital syphilis exceeds prepaymia levels, with more than 9,840 cases reported in 2024.

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THE PREVENTIBLE FOR VACCUNATION

On vaccination preventable diseases, the analysis stops in cervical cancer. In 2024 there were 1,954 deaths associated with this cause, despite the existence of an effective vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV). The vaccination coverage remains at 60%, far from the 90% recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The report emphasizes that “Low coverage constitutes a risk for thousands of women of childbearing age”, Especially in territories where access to reproductive health services is limited.

The analysis of thus goes in health concludes that the responses in public health must be strengthened from an intersectoral look, with territorial approach, and actively including communities. “What the data shows and what communities express is that inequities not only persist, but also tend to expand if they do not act decision”, Warns the report.

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Diana K. Rodríguez T.
Portfolio journalist