At Fundación Fraternidad Medellín, we believe that the well-being of communities begins with caring for life in all its dimensions. That is why we are proud to support and accompany the Wings of Life project, a scientific and social initiative of enormous value for controlling insect-borne diseases and protecting thousands of families in Antioquia. 

Wings of Life was created with the purpose of reducing the transmission of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, and preventing the urban spread of yellow fever, through the implementation of an innovative biological control model based on the release of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacterium. This bacterium, naturally present in more than 60% of the world’s insects, prevents mosquitoes from transmitting these viruses and poses no risk to humans or warm-blooded animals.

The initiative builds on and strengthens the knowledge developed by the World Mosquito Program, which successfully implemented this biological control model in 14 countries. Following the organization’s departure from Colombia, the laboratory donated to Corporación CIDEPRO made it possible to launch Wings of Life, ensuring that this technology was not lost and could be placed at the service of the most vulnerable communities.  

The project, operated by the Program for the Study and Control of Tropical Diseases at the University of Antioquia and carried out in partnership with the Government of Antioquia, will have a direct impact on 16 prioritized municipalities in Urabá, Bajo Cauca, Segovia, and Remedios—regions currently facing high dengue transmission rates and at risk of diseases such as yellow fever—currently present in jungle areas—spreading into urban settings. The intervention includes the weekly release of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes for approximately four months in defined urban zones, with the aim of gradually replacing wild populations of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.  

The expected impact is significant. In addition to helping reduce disease and protect public health, the project generates economic benefits by lowering costs associated with medical care and traditional vector control. Studies indicate that implementing this technology can produce substantial long-term economic benefits, even exceeding the initial investment.  

For Fraternidad Medellín, supporting Wings of Life means reaffirming our commitment to the comprehensive development of Antioquia. It means believing in science as a tool for social transformation. It means investing in solutions that protect communities, strengthen territories, and build the conditions for a healthier and more equitable future.