On one of his trips through the interior of Brazil, Dr. André Malta noted the lack in the eye health and basic information in the area of preventive health.
As the distances are continental, it would be unfeasible for the Expresso da Visão (terrestrial arm) to make the journey and attendance in a timely manner.
That would only be possible by flying!
Hence the idea of acquiring an aircraft, a solution that would allow professionals the necessary time for social action.
The project
The initial project aims to quickly reach places that are not easily accessible and have a high need for ophthalmic treatment and preventive health.
It will initially have a team of volunteers:
The search
The idea was exposed to commanders Vinicius Ayres and Victor Chahud, who volunteered to help find an aircraft that fit the profile (landing and taking off on short runways) and also to pilot it.
Thus began the saga.
Much demand, many evaluations until they find an aircraft with an excellent cost-benefit for such operation.
A Cessna 401:1 + 7 places, high load capacity, good reach and low fuel cost.
Looking over Brazil
More than 16,300 ophthalmologists work in the country. With this, Brazil easily exceeds the proportion of inhabitants by specialists recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, as a result of the unequal distribution of professionals across the territory, 23% of Brazilians do not have access to ophthalmologists.
Choice of Location
All aerodromes homologated for landing in the national territory will be mapped, and from there we will trace routes based on data from DATASUS that show the pent-up demand within a radius of up to 50 km from each aerodrome.
Choice of Patients
What will dictate the number of consultations, will be the amount of glasses donated for each mission, not exceeding 300 glasses per service location (so that we can benefit more people in different places).
Once the route and the number of services for each mission are outlined, contact will be made with the social assistance of each municipality, informing our intention and we will request, through a formal document, authorization from the city hall, health surveillance or any other responsible responsible body, and we will also request that social assistance captures the most needy patients through the amount released for each location.
With all documents and authorizations in hand, we will begin the mission.
Resources
Such an operation requires several resources, ranging from specific equipment, donations inputs (glasses, condoms, oral care products), graphic information and maintenance, hangar, etc.).
The professionals who will be part of this operation will all be volunteers and the rest mentioned above will be maintained through donations from private companies, with no political, religious or financial purposes.
All of our partners will have their names and logos displayed in the graphics and banners present in the actions, in addition to the advertising option on the aircraft itself (depending on each case).
Venture for good
We must remember that the operation has a cost and is maintained by donations, but the act itself is from the heart, from professionals to donors, Expedição Saúde aims, in addition to helping those most in need, to show that "doing good" it is an adventure, and it is always possible to do more. So we leave this idea here! Idea that has no limits!
This is our first step.
I hope that everyone who reads this will understand and share.
Thank you.
André Malta.
PHOTOS
