Sponsor the Care of a Latin American Burned Child

Our Burn Center in Concepcion, Chile opened in December of 2022 making the total number of treatment facilities total four. This facility is on the coast, between Santiago and Puerto Monte, and will provide invaluable services to the residents of the area. The inauguration ceremony gathered around 180 people, including the Governor, authorities from the Ministry of Health, and from the private and public health sectors. It was especially significant that the three founders of Coaniquem, Dr. Rojas, Sergio Domínguez, and Dr. Ayala were able to attend

The goals for the first year of operation of the Conception Center are:

• Treat 500 patients each year, reaching up to 2,000 in 4 years (historically, cumulatively, we have attended 1,800 patients from the South Zone cluster)
• Having a greater impact around the preventative work we have been doing in reducing the number of children with burns in the area (15,000 children each year, according to our estimates).
• Strengthen our work with the public-private health network in these regions.

The other Chilean Burn Centers are in Antofagasta, Santiago and Puerto Mont. The four centers span a region stretching 1,000 km north and south of Santiago, the Main Treatment Center of Coaniquem.

To increase our impact in Latin America, Coaniquem is focusing on Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. In collaboration with local medical teams, we are actively searching for patients that could benefit from COANIQUEM’s new technologies. We are also identifying professionals for our training program, in order to continue with the patient’s rehabilitation at home.

The new Laser Treatment device, made possible in part by the monies collected in memory of Lloyd Baysdorfer, is now in operation. This new procedure utilizes lasers to keep scar tissue more soft and pliable by creating micro-perforations in the scar; and will promote healthy tissue around and beneath it.  This approach speeds up the recovery and reduces the possibilities of severe scarring.  Twelve patients have received their first procedure, and are scheduled for the second one. The patients are from Guatemala, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia and range in age from six to twenty years old. All have severe burns on their head, neck and face. Patients have observed:

• Decreased tension in the treated area
• Improved quality of skin – softer and smoother.
• Healing times have been as expected, according to protocols, 48-72 hrs after procedure.

In August, Coaniquem representatives attended the International Society for Burn Injuries meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico. Coaniquem professional staff members made nine presentations with the focus on sharing knowledge, research and publishing. Other countries are implementing COANIQUEM’s new technologies, like the laser therapy and the use of devices for objective evaluation of scars. COANIQUEM’s model of care – surgery and rehabilitation techniques – is among the most advanced in the world.

Links:

• New Laser burn Treatment System in action

• Typical status report sent to sponsors. (PDF)