The Rotary Club of Itajaí-Porta do Vale, in collaboration with regional clubs (Itajaí, Itajaí-Norte, Balneário Camboriú, Balneário Camboriú-Praia do Atlântico, Camboriú, Itapema, and Porto Belo-Costa Esmeralda), international partners – Rotary Club of The Palisades (District 7490, USA), Districts 4795 (Uruguay), District 6930 (USA) – Governor Douglas Heizer, and 4652 (Brazil), The Rotary Foundation, and with the support of Tokio Marine Insurance and Procave Real Estate Investments, has made a historic donation to the Marieta Konder Bornhausen Hospital and Maternity in Itajaí, Santa Catarina. The donation – a state-of-the-art Surgical Video Tower for the Surgical Center – represents a significant advancement in patient care and surgical technology.
This acquisition, made possible through a Global Grant Project (GG2455603) and tireless collective efforts, aims to modernize surgical procedures and enhance patient care at the institution. The fundraising of $92,650 USD – nearly half a million reais – was achieved through the collaboration of nine Rotary Clubs, three Rotary International districts, The Rotary Foundation, and two private companies.
According to Rotarian José Alberto Noldin, a member of the Rotary Club of Itajaí-Porta do Vale and project coordinator, “The previous equipment at Marieta was already obsolete, which put patient care at risk if any part required maintenance, as replacements were unavailable. The new technology will provide greater safety and efficiency in surgical procedures, ensuring more humane and effective treatment for all.”
The Marieta Konder Bornhausen Hospital and Maternity is a regional reference in emergency care, offering medium and high-complexity services to over 800,000 inhabitants, with 93% of patients served through SUS (the Brazilian public health system: It means it’s free of charge). As a philanthropic institution, the hospital plays an essential role in Itajaí and 11 surrounding municipalities, performing an average of 800 surgeries per month. The new Surgical Video Tower will be utilized across various specialties, including general surgery, urology, digestive surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and otorhinolaryngology, directly benefiting thousands of patients.
The community served by the hospital stands to benefit significantly, as video-assisted surgeries are less invasive, resulting in shorter hospital stays and enabling the treatment of more patients. “Patients will experience shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries, allowing them to return to their daily lives more quickly,” emphasized the hospital’s General Director, Sister Simone Santana.
Rotarian lawyer and President of the Madre Teresa Association, Maurício José Gom, underscored the importance of this achievement: “Our commitment is to continually seek improvements for Marieta Hospital and the patients it serves. This project showcases the collective power of Rotary to make a difference, and it is inspiring to see our efforts positively impact our communities.”
The official handover of the equipment took place on September 26, 2024, in the auditorium of Marieta Hospital. The ceremony was attended by the 2024-2025 Governor of Rotary International District 4652, Cioney Giovanni Giovanella, representatives of the Rotary Clubs, partner companies – Procave and Tokio Marine, the Madre Teresa Association, hospital management, and Rotary leaders and authorities from the region.
The event was marked by emotion and celebration as participants recognized another milestone in Rotary’s mission to transform lives through commitment and solidarity. The new equipment began operation in the hospital’s Surgical Center shortly after its delivery.
By José Alberto Noldin, PDG 2017-2018 (D.4652) | Rotary Club of Itajai-Porta do Vale member and Project Coordinator
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