Delegate: CARLOS ANDRES URZOLA MOSQUERA (COLOMBIAN ASSOCIATION OF SLEEP MEDICINE, ANTIOQUIA SECTION)
Delegate Short Bio: Dr. Carlos Andrés Urzola Mosquera is an otolaryngologist and sleep specialist based in Medellín, Colombia, with over 15 years of experience in the management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring. He is a national and international speaker on topics related to otolaryngology and sleep disorders, and serves as a postgraduate professor at the University of Antioquia in the fields of ENT, OSA, and snoring. He is currently the coordinator of the Antioquia chapter of ACMES. Dr. Urzola is the creator, leader, and executor of the Sleep Tour Antioquia 2026, an innovative initiative aimed at bringing sleep medicine closer to communities. His practice is defined by a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach focused on improving patients’ quality of life. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
Scope of Activity: Campaign
Activity: The Sleep Tour Antioquia 2026 was a comprehensive, community-centered public health initiative developed by ACMES Antioquia in alignment with World Sleep Day 2026 (“Sleep Well, Live Better”), aimed at increasing awareness, early detection, and education on sleep health across diverse populations.
Over a two-week period (March 1–15, 2026), we conducted 15 structured activities that reached both urban and rural communities, including municipalities with limited prior access to sleep medicine education.
Our activities were intentionally designed to address different audiences:
1. General community and rural populations:
Through outreach campaigns in municipalities such as Jardín and El Peñol, we implemented structured screening circuits including vital signs assessment, validated sleep scales (Epworth, STOP-BANG), airway evaluation, and interdisciplinary consultations. These activities allowed us to identify individuals at risk for sleep disorders and provide immediate education and guidance.
2. Families, caregivers, and educators:
We developed pediatric-focused interventions, including a high-impact webinar (50,000+ viewers) and the dissemination of an educational storybook promoting healthy sleep habits in children.
3. Patients and the general public in urban settings:
Screening and education were conducted in clinics and public spaces such as shopping centers, allowing engagement with individuals who do not typically seek medical consultation.
4. Healthcare professionals and students:
Academic activities, including a Sleep Fest at a university and a multidisciplinary conference, promoted interdisciplinary education and practical training in sleep medicine.
5. Mass media audiences:
Through television, radio, and digital platforms (YouTube, Instagram), we expanded our reach to over 100,000 individuals, addressing key topics such as snoring, sleep apnea, mental health, cardiovascular risk, and quality of life.
🎯 Goals of the Initiative
The primary goals of the Sleep Tour Antioquia 2026 were:
* To increase public awareness about the importance of sleep as a fundamental pillar of health
* To identify individuals at risk for sleep disorders through early screening
* To educate communities on healthy sleep habits and warning signs
* To promote interdisciplinary collaboration in sleep medicine
* To expand access to sleep health education, particularly in underserved areas
🌍 Community Impact
This initiative achieved a broad and meaningful impact:
* Direct screening of more than 200 individuals
* Face-to-face education of more than 500 participants
* Community outreach impact exceeding 2,000 individuals
* Media and digital reach surpassing 100,000 people
Beyond numbers, the Sleep Tour helped transform community perception by reinforcing a clear message:
👉 Sleep is essential to health, and snoring should not be considered normal.
🏁 Conclusion
The Sleep Tour Antioquia 2026 represents a scalable, interdisciplinary, and community-driven model of sleep health promotion. By integrating education, screening, and media outreach, we successfully brought sleep medicine beyond clinical settings and into the daily lives of the population.
This initiative reflects the core mission of World Sleep Day:
to improve global health through awareness, education, and action.
Location: Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia (including community outreach activities in the municipalities of Jardín and El Peñol, Antioquia)
Date of Activity: March 1–15, 2026 (including World Sleep Day main activities on March 13, 2026)
