In a remote corner of southern Colombia, where the echoes of violence coexist with the warmth of its people, Dr. Viviana Obando has become a symbol of resistance, hope and service. Originally from the municipality of La Cruz, Nariño, a town that was ravaged by the armed conflict, this gastroenterology specialist not only defied the adversities of her environment, but also transformed her vocation into a driving force of change for her community. With tears in her eyes, Dr. Viviana remembers how her own experiences marked her decision to dedicate herself to medicine. “I am a single mother of two children, a daughter and a professional; I was born in a town called La Cruz. There is a high incidence of gastric cancer here, even in young people who die. I wanted to study this specialty to serve my people and save lives. My satisfaction is the gratitude of people when they tell me “God bless you,” she told Al Día Wellness.

Un Legado Familiar que Inspiró su Vocación

A Family Legacy that Inspired her Vocation Viviana grew up in a home where medicine was more than a profession, it was a way of life. Her father, a doctor with more than 60 years of experience, and her grandfather, a traditional doctor who used plants to heal, were her first teachers. “This profession is in my blood. I grew up among the people of the town and the countryside. They taught me the value of service, the love of the profession and the vocation of serving others,” she explains. After training as one of the pioneers in the medical career in Pasto, Viviana specialized in gastroenterology in Argentina. Although the experience was enriching, it was not without sacrifices: “I had to leave my daughter with my parents. I knew that what made me cry today when working long shifts, tomorrow would make me laugh as an experience, in addition to adapting to a new culture in a big city after leaving a small town.”

A Beacon of Hope in Difficult Lands

Since 2015, Dr. Obando established her office in La Cruz, facing not only the lack of resources, but also the violence that plagues the region. “At that time, traveling to these areas was a risk. However, my consultation was directed to the people who needed it the most because my desire to help was greater, also because I knew that it would help control gastric and colorectal cancer,” she says. Thanks to her work, the rates of gastric and colorectal cancer have decreased significantly in this region. Viviana has been a key piece for the early detection of these diseases in vulnerable populations that previously did not have access to specialized medical care. 

The Risks of Serving

El camino no ha sido fácil. En 2014, mientras lideraba una campaña de salud, fue víctima de un ataque armado. “El vehículo en el que iba recibió 14 disparos y su padre resultó herido.” También perdió a un hermano en un asalto mientras estaba a su lado. “Crecí con incursiones guerrilleras y crimen. Hubo momentos en los que tuve que esconderme debajo de una cama mientras mis padres salían con una bandera blanca para que no nos pasara nada”, recuerda con tristeza.

The road has not been easy

 In 2014, while leading a health campaign, she was the victim of an armed attack. “The vehicle she was in was shot 14 times and her father was injured.” She also lost a brother in a robbery while she was at his side. “I grew up with guerrilla raids and crime. There were times when I had to hide under a bed while my parents came out with a white flag so that nothing would happen to us,” she recalls sadly.

A Call to Action Despite everything, Viviana remains firm in her mission. She calls on governments to guarantee the safety of doctors working in rural areas. “We want to serve, but we need protection.” “I call on the authorities to help us by providing protection to our medical mission and in this way be able to help more people who often cannot go to their appointments,” she says. She also invites more specialists to consider working in remote areas, where their work can make the difference between life and death. “The satisfaction of serving is the greatest thing, our commitment is to help people and even more so if we are specialists.” Alternative medicine also has a leading role In the case of Dr. Viviana, alternative or ancestral medicine plays an important role in the healing of patients if it is used and complemented by people who handle the ancestral and traditional subject “my grandfather started with this medicine and I believe in it, you cannot give an opinion with something you do not know; he knows, educates, guides and tries to get the best, before it was what there was and it worked.” An Example of Strength and Commitment Dr. Viviana Obando is more than a doctor; she is an anonymous heroine who, with courage and dedication, has transformed lives and helped control and prevent gastric problems in towns in southern Colombia. Her story not only inspires, but reminds us that, even in the darkest places, there is always light, one awaits