With a very emotional day at our Faculty of Health Sciences, we commemorated 25 years of continuous work in promoting 'Good Treatment,' a valuable initiative that fills our hearts. On October 25, we gathered in this space, which seeks to consolidate 'Good Treatment' as a pillar in the upbringing of children and adolescents, and we had the privilege of speaking with Rodrigo Olmedo Solarte Paz, retired professor from our Alma Mater, who has dedicated much of his life to promoting this important cause.

The XXV 'Good Treatment Promotion Day' had a rich agenda. The book “Rico Buen Trato:Vivencias de un Proceso en sus 25 Años” was presented, a series of conferences on parenting were held, as well as a workshop focused on connection with sound and body awareness.

This academic reflection space, which is essential for promoting respect in parenting, takes on particular importance in light of the alarming statistics on violence against children and adolescents in Colombia. Between January and March of this year, 11,427 cases of neglect and abuse and 177 homicides of minors were recorded, according to the Attorney General's Office and the National Institute of Legal Medicine. These figures highlight the urgent need to continue cultivating spaces for analysis and action around 'Good Treatment.'

In this regard, we spoke with Dr. Rodrigo Olmedo Solarte Paz, pediatrician and emeritus professor at the University of Cauca, who shared details of his more than 25-year career promoting 'Good Treatment' for children in Cauca, focusing on an interdisciplinary approach to 'Social Pediatrics,' which emerged from the need to move beyond strictly clinical and hospital care.

This is how an interest in promoting 'Good Treatment' for children began to take shape. This interest was strengthened by the Popular Education Group of the University of Cauca, and complemented by workshops in Medicine and Family Health that Dr. Rodrigo attended, which, combined with Primary Care, led to the development of Social Pediatrics at the University of Cauca. Thus, with the Family Health approach, the program was integrated into both the Nursing and Pediatrics departments of this institution.

'This process started as an interest that grew not only interinstitutionally, but also interdisciplinary, involving areas such as Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology. It was also influenced by my personal sensitivity and my roots in the countryside, since I was born in a rural area of El Tambo, Cauca. At that time, both the government and departmental and municipal programs promoted Primary Care and the care of abused children, and that’s how the idea of organizing teamwork and, eventually, creating the network was born,' said Dr. Rodrigo, fondly recalling the beginnings of the Interinstitutional Community Network for Child 'Good Treatment,' ‘RICO BUEN TRATO.’

It is important to note that Dr. Rodrigo Solarte is a distinguished professional, whose academic career and commitment to childhood are truly evident. He began his training at the University of Cauca, where he earned his medical degree, and then continued his postgraduate studies in Pediatrics at the University of Antioquia. His dedication and academic excellence allowed him to receive a scholarship from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with which he specialized in Clinical and Social Pediatrics in Santiago, Chile. This international training enriched his professional practice, a practice that focuses on the comprehensive care of children, covering both clinical attention and the social well-being of his patients.

‘Previously, Growth and Development Control was very quantitative, because it was just weight, height, maternal nutrition, vaccinations, some advice, and nothing more. But progressively, with the focus on Primary Care and our relationship with the Community Homes of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF), this care began to change, taking other aspects into account. That's how we started this interinstitutional relationship between Health Sciences, Family Welfare, and back then, the Social Security,’ Dr. Rodrigo detailed.

His career is remarkable: for more than 25 years, Dr. Rodrigo Olmedo Solarte has worked in teams and networks with students, community mothers, and professionals, driving initiatives to prevent child abuse and promote parenting based on respect and understanding. One such initiative is the radio program Crianza Feliz (Happy Parenting), which has been broadcast on Unicauca Estéreo since 2001, aiming to promote well-being in families. At the University of Cauca, we deeply appreciate Dr. Rodrigo’s dedication and the impact of his work, an impact that continues today through the Good Treatment Promotion Days, essential initiatives for creating a safe and protective environment for our children—an area that must be a commitment from all of us in the face of the painful realities we are currently experiencing.

Thank you, Professor, for your commitment and for planting love in the new generations!

Writing: Center for Communication Management.