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Pró Criança Cardíaca -
RJ
In 2007 a major push for the Dreams Can Be Foundation will be to assist Dr. Rosa Celia Barbosa in her goal of building a children’s hospital for the poor children of Rio de Janeiro and nearby areas. The hospital will have both a for-profit and non-profit side in order for Dr. Rosa to continue serving the needy children and families that she currently treats through the Pro Crianca Cardiaca Foundation; both in the ProCrianca Clinic and at a nearby private hospital where she performs her surgeries.
These children require complicated and delicate heart surgeries that normally would go untreated leading to unnecessary death or catastrophic illness that would otherwise be avoided. Brazil’s children initially come to the outpatient clinic (Projeto Pro Crianca Cardiaca) for evaluation. A proper diagnosis is a joint effort using the combined resources at both the Foundation and the support hospital (Pro-Cardiaco), which are in close proximity. Surgeries, using the latest technology, are performed at the private hospital where Dr. Rosa Celia Barbosa heads a small pediatric cardiac unit. Projeto Pro Crianca Foundation provides the financial support required by these families as all costs incurred, including surgeries and other hospital costs are covered by the foundation.
The plan for ‘Hospital da Crianca” is a first-class hospital to attend to the paying public and that will help generate funds in order to support the charitable side of the hospital.
Already enough funds have already been raised for the land where the hospital will be built and we are currently in the fundraising stage for the building and equipping of the hospital.
It is common in Rio de Janeiro if a very poor (and often young) couple visits a public hospital with their sick child is told they must wait or that the hospital does not have the resources to treat the child. If the child dies in the waiting room the parents are told that this was God’s will. Dr. Rosa is emphatic that these children be saved and that these parents are spared the unnecessary sorrow of losing a child because they could not pay for the medical treatment that is available to families of means.
Another significant problem is a lack of bed space. A hospital will call Dr. Rosa and inform her of a baby that will die without immediate attention. After performing the surgery Dr. Rosa must then worry as to whether the hospital will be capable of keeping that baby free of infection and oversee proper follow up care in her absence. The current hospital that donates their facility has very limited bed space to offer these charity patients and parents are often sent shuttling between hospitals begging for the life of their child before they find Dr. Rosa. If she cannot find a hospital bed she will later hear that the baby has died, which is why she insists that no child is turned away.
For example, the day that this is being written- June 7th, 2006-
a mother came to her with a baby that was blue. They immediately took the baby into surgery and saved her life. This is after having been to three hospitals.
But not everyone finds Dr. Rosa. The most pressing situation currently is the need for a first class hospital setting for her team of doctors to work with enough bed space to attend to the growing number of children that seek her assistance.
Dr. Rosa estimates that 40% of her time is spent in private practice and 60% towards the project. She spends many evenings attending
events in her honor to get her story out in hopes of raising more funds. She credits much of her success to the generosity of friends and wealthy business people who come to her aid when she is in a difficult position.
If you are interested in being a part of this very rewarding opportunity to save the lives of these innocent children and would like to know more about how you can help, please contact Christine Clauser by e-mail
contact@dreamscanbe.org
or by phone at 814-255-4379 or in Brazil (55)21-2249-5772 for more information.
HISTORY:
Pro Criança Cardiaca Foundation was created in 1996 by Dr. Rosa Barbosa in response to the many children that desperately need quality cardiac care in Rio de Janeiro. Poor children born with cardiac problems that demand surgery find it very hard to receive care in public hospitals, since they usually lack physical and infrastructural resources and consequently a large number of these children die waiting for treatment. Touched by this cry for help, Dr. Rosa Celia Barbosa responded by mobilizing professionals, friends and companies and with the support of the Pro Cardiaco Hospital, founded Pro Criança Cardiaca Foundation.
Pro Criança Cardiaca gradually developed from an embryonic to an adult stage. In 2001, Pro Criança Cardiaca opened its own Clinical Center on the same street as the hospital. With the inauguration of the new clinic, they were able to broaden their medical assistance and offer other services, such as dental care and computer classes.
At the Pro Crianca Clinic the child immediately undergoes a detailed assessment consisting of medical examinations, ECG, and Echocardiogram. If further exams are necessary, they take place at the Pro Cardiaco Hospital without delay, as both the clinical Center and the support Hospital are located on the same street.
During the process of diagnosis and treatment, the same medical team attends the child, giving him/her and family members a sense of familiarity and security. Directly after the diagnosis, the procedure for the treatment is determined. The team offers advice on treatment, diet, and other care. It also provides medication, food, clothes and toys. Everything is done with professionalism, devotion, and joy.
Every year, the number of needy families rises. A year after Pro Criança Cardiaca Foundation was created in 1996, the number of children receiving medical care was 110 with 43 heart surgeries performed. In 2003, over 5000 were treated, with 445 heart surgeries performed.
Dreams Can Be is proud to support proudly the Pro Criança Cardiaca Foundation.
In March 2005 Dreams made its first donation of R$ 50.000 (US$ 29,411) to the Pro-Cardiaca Foundation.
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