Where:
Where:Amazon River
Target audience:
Target audience:Rural communities living along the Amazon.
Who is following the project?
Who is following the project?Brother Francisco
Background
Approximately 1,000 tribes inhabit the Amazon River, one of the longest rivers in the world. In most cases they are isolated and poor communities, lacking any access to the most common services, who have always guarded the natural areas they inhabit. Areas increasingly threatened by economic interests related to the exploitation of forest and mineral resources.
Friars in the Amazon
Back in 2013, the friars started a hospital dedicated to the inhabitants of the Amazon River, located in the town of Obidos (Pará), just on the left bank of the majestic South American river. Over time, however, they realized that too many people did not have the means to reach this place. So they came up with an ambitious project: to create a floating hospital that could float up the river to reach tribes in their own settings. The Barco Hospital Papa Francisco went into operation in 2019, just in time to meet the Covid challenge.
The Barco Hospital
The Barco Hospital involves a crew of 20 doctors, mostly volunteers, who in a ten-day expedition touch numerous locations overlooking the Amazon River bringing health care and assistance to their inhabitants. The health staff provides dental care, assists deliveries, assigns drug treatment, and has an operating room for more serious cases.
However, the friars face significant costs for the procurement of medicines necessary for the effective performance of the missions. The Fondazione OFM Fraternitas has set a goal to help meet these costs by activating a specific fundraiser.
Campaign 2022
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Your donation will go to support Barco Hospital’s expeditions along the Amazon.
UPDATES
Barco Hospital triples its commitment
Launched the third boat in the Barco Hospital fleet: the São João XXIII.