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Society for Aid to Children Inoperable in Mauritius (S.A.C.I.M)

The Society for Aid to Children Inoperable in Mauritius (S.A.C.I.M) is an association that provides aid to Mauritian and Rodriguan children from low-income families who are suffering from conditions that cannot be operated upon in Mauritius but can be treated abroad. S.A.C.I.M is the only organisation in Mauritius focused on caring for these inoperable children. S.A.C.I.M ensures comprehensive care from diagnosis to post-operative return, including full support during the treatment abroad.

 

Accreditation Number with the National Social Inclusion Foundation: N/1096

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Services offered

S.A.C.I.M provides complete care for children with inoperable conditions, starting from diagnosis to post-operative return. This includes support and assistance abroad. Upon the child's return, S.A.C.I.M coordinates ongoing medical and emotional follow-up.

 

Beneficiary children are selected by a group of specialists associated with S.A.C.I.M based on a referral from their primary doctor. A thorough assessment of the family's social and financial situation is conducted before accepting the case. Concurrently, S.A.C.I.M undertakes medical explorations such as MRI, X-rays, and biological analyses.

 

The results are reviewed by a panel of doctors, and a social report is requested from the Probation Department of the Judiciary. After the fieldwork, the Executive Committee examines the case and decides whether to proceed to the next steps.

 

If accepted, and following consultation with a foreign hospital, children are sent either to Australia (Perth, Melbourne) or India (Bangalore). S.A.C.I.M covers travel and accommodation expenses as well as the total cost of the operations.

 

Abroad, the child, accompanied or not by a parent, is hosted by a foster family. In Mauritius, S.A.C.I.M supports the family. Upon the child's return, S.A.C.I.M coordinates ongoing medical and emotional follow-up. A S.A.C.I.M child remains under their care for life with regular check-ups to ensure no complications arise. S.A.C.I.M continuously welcomes the children and their parents.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Household income not exceeding Rs 50,000 per month.
  • The child should be under 18 years old.
  • The child must have a condition requiring surgery that cannot be performed in Mauritius, specified in a medical certificate signed by the treating doctor from a public hospital.

 

Beneficiaries: S.A.C.I.M primarily assists underprivileged minors suffering from congenital heart defects, brain and orbital tumours, renal and intestinal anomalies, and orthopaedic anomalies. Since its inception, the organisation has directly supported 715 children, providing them with the critical medical care they need. This support also extends to their families, indirectly impacting a larger community. In 2018 alone, by March, 14 children and their families had already benefited from S.A.C.I.M's comprehensive services.

History

The Society for Aid to Children Inoperable in Mauritius (S.A.C.I.M) was founded on May 10, 1967. Its creation was driven by the need to provide complex medical care that is not available in Mauritius, despite the free hospital services in the country. Such specialised treatments are often financially out of reach for low-income families from Mauritius, Rodrigues, and Agaléga. S.A.C.I.M was established to bridge this gap, ensuring that children in need of these critical medical services can receive them regardless of their family's financial situation.

Objectives

The mission of S.A.C.I.M is to provide comprehensive care for inoperable children from low-income families in Mauritius. This care includes:

  • Identifying and assessing children based on medical and social criteria.
  • Coordinating and arranging necessary procedures both locally and abroad, including liaising with foreign administrations and hospitals.
  • Offering complete support from the diagnosis through to post-operative return, including assistance and support during the treatment abroad.

 

Every step, from initial identification to the child's return and follow-up care, is meticulously managed to ensure the best possible outcomes for these vulnerable children.

Main achievements
  • A.C.I.M is the only organisation focused on caring for locally inoperable children in Mauritius.
  • A.C.I.M has successfully addressed the needs of locally inoperable children for 49 years.
  • Since 1968 till December 2018, S.A.C.I.M has sent abroad 719 children and referred 878 cases more than once either for multiple stage surgeries or review.
  • Beneficiaries are sent aboard to various medical centres for treatment such as in Perth and Melbourne, Australia and Bangalore, India through international partnerships.
  • A.C.I.M caters for children suffering from locally inoperable health complications such as:
    • Congenital heart defects
    • Brain and orbital tumours
    • Renal and intestinal anomalies
    • Orthopaedic anomalies
Sources of funding
  • Individual donations
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds

 

The annual budget is approximately Rs 4.5 million.