Jaír F. Coll

Documentary photographer
   
Samara, a Zika daughter
Location: Cali, Colombia
Nationality: Colombia
Biography: Jaír F. Coll (1997) is a colombian visual journalist whose work focuses on culture as a factor of social transformation. His photography, both intimate and colorful, has been exhibited at the Photo Vogue Festival 2021 and was selected in... MORE
Public Story
Samara, a Zika daughter
Copyright Jaír F. Coll 2024
Date of Work Feb 2019 - May 2019
Updated Jun 2022
Location Colombia
Topics Spotlight
Even if the Zika epidemic in Colombia ended years ago, the traces of this disease still active in the hundreds of families who experienced a turnaround in their lives after the birth of 356 children with microcephaly between 2015 and 2018, according to the National Institute of Health.

Samara Velásquez Corcino, 3, is one of them, as a result of her mother, Eliana, 38, contracted an asymptomatic Zika during her pregnancy in 2016.The condition gives to the girl a 97% disability, which makes her have a delayed physical-neuronal development, gastroesophageal reflux, severe spasticity (muscle contraction), lack of musculature, among other symptoms.

Like other mothers who have had to face the same situation in different cities of Colombia and Latinoamerica, Eliana “stopped being a woman to become a full time caregiver”, according to her, which meant giving up her work as an esthetician and her personal activities to devote herself completely to Samara’s upbringing.

However, Eliana and Samara find quite a few moments of love between them and the other members of their family: Jean Paul, the father, and Brianna, the firstborn daughter.
LinkedIn Icon Facebook Icon Twitter Icon
1,709

Also by Jaír F. Coll —

Story

The New York Times: Curing Animals With Cannabis

Jaír F. Coll / Cali
Story

NYT: Venezuelans Are Injecting New Life Into Colombian Baseball

Jaír F. Coll
Story

For NYT: Opening up the eclipse to people who cannot see it

Jaír F. Coll / Palmira
Story

“Ser barra sí nos dio de comer”

Jaír F. Coll
Story

The Guardian: Lela MC, the 12-year-old who is a big presence on Bogotá’s rap scene

Jaír F. Coll / Bogotá
Story

Bloomberg: Colombia urge evacuations as volcano threatens to erupt

Jaír F. Coll / Murillo, Tolima
Story

New York Times: Christmas in February

Jaír F. Coll / Jamundí
Story

Life-changing symphony in Cali, Colombia

Jaír F. Coll / Cali
Story

The promises of Colombian ballet emerge in this academy

Jaír F. Coll
Story

B-Migrant - for NPR

Jaír F. Coll / Colombia
Story

Music in blood, trans in the soul - For Baudó AP

Jaír F. Coll / Cali
Story

Snapshots of resistence

Jaír F. Coll / Cali
Story

The colombian capital of salsa tries to save itself

Jaír F. Coll / Cali
Story

The miracle of the San Miguel nursing home

Jaír F. Coll / Cali
Story

Black Baby Jesus was born in February

Jaír F. Coll / Quinamayó
Samara, a Zika daughter by Jaír F. Coll
Sign-up for
For more access