PRO CRIANÇA CARDÍACA – 30 YEARS OF SAVING CHILDREN'S LIVES THROUGH EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARDIAC CARE
Founded in 1996, Pro Criança Cardíaca is a Brazilian non-profit organization dedicated to providing specialized cardiac care to children and adolescents from low-income families. Established by pediatric cardiologist Dr. Rosa Celia, the organization was created in response to the growing number of vulnerable families seeking treatment for children with heart disease but lacking access to specialized healthcare.
What began as an individual commitment to helping underserved patients evolved into a comprehensive healthcare institution focused on ensuring that every child, regardless of socioeconomic status, has access to high-quality diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up care.
A major milestone was achieved in 2001 with the inauguration of its headquarters in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, supported by BNDES, Amil Health Insurance, and private donors. This expansion significantly increased access to care for children with congenital and acquired heart diseases.
Over nearly three decades, Pro Criança Cardíaca has provided outpatient care to more than 16,400 children and adolescents and enabled nearly 2,090 life-saving invasive procedures, including cardiac surgeries and catheterizations. In addition to medical care, the organization offers social support through medication assistance, nutritional guidance, and multidisciplinary services for patients and their families.
Committed to innovation and continuous improvement, Pro Criança Cardíaca expanded its services with the creation of a specialized dental unit in 2003 and the establishment of the Jutta Batista Pediatric Hospital in 2014, strengthening its integrated healthcare model.
In 2025 alone, the organization provided care to 1,406 children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years, reaffirming its role as a leading reference in pediatric cardiology for vulnerable populations in Brazil. Approximately 240 patients receive ongoing monthly care from a multidisciplinary team of highly qualified professionals. Services include clinical evaluations, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, specialized diagnostic testing, and, when necessary, complex hospital procedures followed by continuous care from the same medical team.
As Pro Criança Cardíaca celebrates 30 years of impact, it stands as a model of medical excellence, social responsibility, and human-centered care. By reducing barriers to healthcare access and delivering life-saving treatment, the organization has transformed thousands of lives and strengthened families across Brazil.
Looking ahead, Pro Criança Cardíaca remains committed to expanding access to specialized healthcare, strengthening governance and sustainability practices, and generating measurable social impact for future generations.
