Sponsor the Care of a Latin American Burned Child

The comprehensive care provided free of charge by COANIQUEM for burned children is unique.

In order to meet the needs of these young burn victims, Dr. Rojas-Zegers and his staff pioneered an approach called “integrated Healing” — a holistic program that includes:

Physical healing, including plastic surgery, scar compression and rehabilitation using exercises and special devices.

Psychological treatment of trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders for both the children and the families.

Education provided to school aged children by trained teachers, at bedside when required by the extent of the treatment.

Spiritual support to help the children develop the inner strength and resolve necessary to deal with their injuries.

While children are being treated at the Rehabilitation Center, COANIQUEM provides teachers so that they do not fall behind in their studies. The  children and their parents receive free room and board at Casabierta, one of the facilities of COANIQUEM.

In addition to medical services, COANIQUEM develops and circulates burn prevention literature. Also, in cooperation with government agencies and the private sector, COANIQUEM organizes and conducts campaigns to increase public awareness of fire hazards and burn prevention activities.

The atmosphere at the Santiago facility is positive and cheerful, in spite of the severity of the children's injuries.

See the smiling face!

Please help keep her smiling!

This month COANIIQUEM celebrates thirty-seven years of rehabilitation treatment for the burned children of Latin America.  More than 120,000 patients have been treated in the three centers in Chile  (Santiago, Antofagasta, Puerto Montt), and 315 professionals from 20 other Latin American and Caribbean countries have been trained at COANIQUEM to implement the holistic approach in their home burn units.  That outreach has resulted in the treatment of another 100,000 children.  Currently, 8,000 children are treated each year in Chile, and 400 surgeries are performed.

Casabierta, the facility that provides housing, food, and education, also celebrated an anniversary  -  20 years of being a home for the children that come from distant regions or abroad.  Some patients (and a parent) stay for a few days, but others need to stay for longer perionds, like Eric, who had surgery with a tissue expander and will be staying for two to four months until the new extra skin grows enough to replace the adjacent scar.  (See Eric's picture attached.)

All of these services are provided free of charge to the children and their families.  The average annual cost per child is US$1,000.

COANIQUEM also continues its efforts toward the prevention of childhood burns, with educational programs in schools and communities and with activities to influence relevant legislation.  For example, COANIQUEM played a key role in outlawing fireworks, resulting in a significant reduction in burns from this cause.  Similar efforts have been aimed at laws to secure stoves and to increase the safety of hot water bottles.