In the municipality of Guapi, the research team of the Malaria Cauca Project conducted a participatory workshop to understand perceptions about malaria and progress in constructing a model for health promotion, prevention, and surveillance in public health.

The Malaria Cauca Project, led by researchers from the University of Cauca, Beatriz Eugenia Bastidas Sánchez and Claudia María Hurtado Triviño, continues its work in three municipalities along the Cauca Pacific coast: Guapi, López de Micay, and Timbiquí. The project aims to build an understanding of the perception of malaria within these communities and generate actions for its prevention based on the community's perspectives of the territory.

With this objective in mind, on Wednesday, May 31, the team of researchers conducted a participatory workshop in the municipality of Guapi. They engaged in dialogue and discussions with the community to understand their perceptions about this disease. This allowed the generation of a diagnosis that would aid in the collective construction of a model for the promotion, prevention, and surveillance of malaria in public health.

The methodology used, which involved focus group discussions, enables the researchers to develop a proposal for the community that respects its context, language, and unique perspectives. This session saw the participation of representatives from the Municipal Health and Education Secretariats of Guapi, staff from ESE Guapi, microscopists, administrators, teachers, and students from SENA Guapi, the ecclesiastical community, and members of community councils.

Through these actions, the Malaria Cauca Project, titled 'Study of the main factors of parasites, vectors, and hosts for the development of malaria elimination strategies in the Department of Cauca,' provides solutions to the communities in the Cauca Pacific region through participatory and supportive actions that contribute to the well-being of the people.