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ParaPraia receives an Embrace to Microcephaly and SOS Vida patients

31/01/2018

The Parapraia project received, last weekend, more than special participants. On Saturday, family members and children with microcephaly linked to the organization Abraço à Microcephaly were present. On Sunday, the project received bedridden patients, assisted by SOS Vida, who depend on mechanical ventilation to breathe. The initiative has been taking place since January 13, on Ondina beach, in front of the Baiano Rehabilitation Institute (IBR).

Since then, Saturdays and Sundays in January have been full of joy, rapport and, above all, volunteer work and solidarity. "I've been trying to participate for three years as a volunteer and, due to setbacks, I never managed. This week was my birthday and I decided to give myself as a gift to be here today as a volunteer," says business administrator Cristiane.

According to the vice president of Abraço à Microcephaly, Mila Mendonça, the idea of participating in Parapraia came from the desire to support the project, in addition to being able to establish a partnership. "This is an action that should take place throughout the year. We will soon be in contact with the city council to claim this benefit." According to Mila, the organization currently has 200 associated children, who receive care from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nutritionists and psychologists. Among the activities, fortnightly meetings are also held with family members.

"This partnership with Embrace to Microcephaly was born out of the importance of ParaPraia, which is an inclusion project. Today we are establishing future partnerships with this entity, which will involve our students from different courses, through extension activities. The idea is that this generation affected by microcephaly can have a quality of life based on interprofessional care", highlighted the dean of Extension of the Bahiana Prof. Carolina Pedroza.

This is the 5th edition of Parapraia, an initiative that enables assisted bathing in the sea for wheelchair users and people with mobility difficulties. The project is carried out through the sponsorship of Braskem and Salvador Shopping, in addition to the technical support of Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, which provides teachers and students to serve bathers, in addition to training for volunteers.