Pro Criança Cardíaca was founded in 1996 with the purpose of offering support to low-income children with heart disease. The decision to care for these children arose from a growing need: each year, more and more families sought help at Dr. Rosa's private clinic, CCI (Clínica Cardiológica Infantil). Ignoring this demand was not an option, since these children were there, needing help. The right time to act had arrived.
We already had an organized outpatient care structure and the ability to diagnose these children when necessary. The Pediatric Unit at Hospital Pró-Cardíaco was already established, with all the essential resources to provide specialized medical care. But there was still an important "C" missing from our mission: the "C" for children in need. The Brazilian public health system did not have enough beds to care for all the children who needed it, and every day more patients sought our services. It was then that we felt the need to grow in order to meet this demand.
In 2001, with the support of BNDES, Amil Seguro Saúde and our benefactor, we were able to open the Pro Criança Cardíaca headquarters in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro. The institution, a non-profit medical organization founded by cardiologist Dr. Rosa Célia, who still heads the work, was created for a simple reason: for Dr. Rosa, it was impossible to deny help to low-income families who came to her private practice.
Over its 29 years of existence, Pro Criança Cardíaca has treated more than 16,000 outpatients and performed almost 1,800 invasive procedures, such as heart surgeries and catheterizations. And, with this growing structure, we have also been able to offer additional support to these families, such as donating medicines and food. In 2003, under the management of Dr. Pierre Neto Gentil and in partnership with Amil, we opened our dental unit, marking a major advance in the care of children with heart disease. In 2014, we founded the Jutta Batista Pro Criança Pediatric Hospital to continue and expand the care we offer.
Currently, the institution serves approximately 240 low-income children per month, with a team of highly qualified cardiologists. When the children arrive, they are clinically evaluated and undergo tests such as electrocardiograms and echocardiograms. More specialized tests, such as hematological tests and Holter monitoring, are performed at the Jutta Batista Pediatric Hospital and the CCI. If any invasive procedure is necessary, it is performed at the hospital, and, after discharge, monitoring continues with the same team that started the treatment, providing safety and comfort for the families.
Our commitment goes beyond medical procedures. Dr. Rosa always had in mind that the health unit should be a complete space, which met not only the clinical needs of the children, but also the well-being of the families. For this reason, we offer multidisciplinary care, with dentistry, dermatology, nutrition, psychology and ophthalmology services. We also provide assistance with food, medicine, diapers, books and toys. Donations are essential to keep the institution running, which depends on this philanthropic support to continue offering all of these services.
In addition, Pro Criança Cardíaca is proud to adopt ethical and humane management, with a commitment to governance and employees. For this exemplary work, we have been recognized for four consecutive years as one of the 100 best NGOs in Brazil and one of the 15 best in the health sector.
For many of these families, we are the only alternative, the only chance for treatment. And it is with this purpose that we continue, each day more committed to transforming lives and offering hope.
