Latin America
In the NCFI family, Latin America, with its beautiful scenery, vibrant culture, and mainly Spanish and Portuguese languages, as well as other Aboriginal languages, is a very diverse region. It is a mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, German, English, Italian, African and indigenous.
Christian nurses in Argentina are expanding amazingly, with several national groups, and a strong steering committee that is aware of the times. Argentina has representative in the NCFI, InternationalBoard and Regional Committee. They currently work through the networks and have already achieved their legal status in the country. What it’s has led to a better positioning within nursing national.
Argentina has also been working with the Saline Process program.
Colombia
View websiteColombia is mainly working with retired nurses in a pastoral ministry that is focussed on older adults in the town of Suba (Lisbon) north of the city of Bogotá, who are accompanied by spiritual care every Friday afternoon. There are also some young Christian nurses who contribute to CIDEC-AL’s messaging page, communications, and ministry to students and the new generation.
The CECEC publishes the Virtual Bulletin “El Mensajero” for all Latin America, which informs the entire region about the work of the NCFI in Latin America. In addition, CECEC continues to work for the strengthening and service of Ecumenism, as a strategy in Spiritual Care from Christian Nursing.
Chile
Email: alicia.yanez93@gmail.com
The groups of Believing Nurses and Midwives from Concepción and Temuco, pillars of NCFI’s presence in our country, connect Christian nurses and midwives, equipping them to carry out their work from a Biblical worldview, practicing their profession from the very heart of God. Meetings are held every 15 days, plus an annual National Conference. There’s also a network of retired nurses and midwives who support each other as well as active nurses and students, united in Christ. Local connections exist with Nursing Associations and Universities.
Chile will be the host country for the XII CIDEC-AL Congress, November 26-29, 2026, in Concepción.
Cuba
Cuba held its second National Conference in 2019, on March 24 and 25 in Havana. The topic, which was presented by Gladys G Altamirano and Cecilia Rivas C. was titled: The 6 C in Nursing Care. This was very well received. We commend Dargelia Oquendo, Maite Oreilly and Juanita Guerra, for their efforts. They work hard, with commitment and love.
Currently, Claudia Stevens, one of the young leaders, has promised to work with the Next Generation. This country is already an official member of the NCFI.
Ecuador
Currently in Ecuador we are working with four groups:
- With former teachers of retired nurses called “Joy Group” who are the pioneers of MEDEC (closed group)
- Retired nurses under the age of 70
- Active nurses
- Nursing Students
Fabiola Hidalgo, member of the NCFI Expansion Committee, is interested in working with active nurses and especially with the new generation together with Claudia Stevens (from Cuba) representing Latin America for the Next Generation forum. We have a great challenge ahead; we want to continue advancing at work.
NCFI Latin America also has contacts in
Upcoming events
All Events →Latin America, Regional Conference 2026
Latin America, Regional Conference To be held in Concepcion, Chile 26 - 29 November 2026.
History
The work of NCF in Latin America was started by missionary nurses working in Peru, Argentina, Ecuador and Chile. These nurses who felt called by God to work among Christian nurses, were appointed by NCFI to help establish NCFI’s work in Latin America.
The first NCFI regional conference was held in Lima, Peru in 1982. The second conference in 1986 was organized by NCF in Argentina. During the third regional conference in Ecuador in 1990 the first Regional Committee was formed.
Latin America currently has its representation on the NCFI International Board, working on different committees.
CIDEC-AL Executive Committee 2023–2026
Regional Representative to NCFI 2024–2028: Fabiola Hidalgo M., representative of MEDEC. medec.ecuador@gmail.com
Regional President 2023–2026: Miriam Sterli, Argentina, representative of UCEA. miri_sterli@hotmail.com
Secretary: Graciela E. Rojas, Argentina, representative of UCEA. gracielaswissmedical@gmail.com
Treasurer: Alicia Yáñez, Chile, representative of ACEMACH. alicia.yanez93@gmail.com
Committee Member: Fabiola Hidalgo, Ecuador, representative of MEDEC. faby_hidalsan@hotmail.com
Committee Member: Claudia Stevens, Cuba, representative of UEMEC. claudiastevensromero@gmail.com