Sponsor the Care of a Latin American Burned Child

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.