“Live the game of life.”

In 2021, as in a soccer game, we had the second half and the overtime of the pandemic. As in every game, we try to redouble our energies, take a deep breath and run a lot, sometimes in slow motion due to tiredness. It looked like everything would be resolved. I was wrong, there was so much more! We just didn’t know, nor the patients, nor the families, nor the whole world, that we would live for another year with the pain of the pandemic.

In this championship with overtime, the players, represented here by our professionals, were divided into front and rear lines. The valuable supporters, represented here by investors and partners, continued to support us. And the real winners of the game, represented here by our patients and their families, were treated in large numbers with the same quality as always. The final result marked everyone’s joy on the scoreboard, there were many goals for the cure and so many lives saved.

In this second year of facing the pandemic, we were provoked to many reflections. The main lesson learned was the reaffirmation and emphatic proof that people are the greatest value of our institution. In an organization that provides services, human capital will be its greatest strength. Not the strength of the workforce, but the driving force that makes everything spin, work, and thrive!

In other words, our professionals were the ones who supported the Hospital’s routine, who brought care and sustainability results, who donated their knowledge and affection to care, cure or sweetly comfort. They are like lights that illuminate the paths, decreasing pain, producing joys, and cherishing losses or goodbyes.

With an affective bond going hand in hand with technical knowledge, they act like known angels and take the place of present-friends.

This confirmation came very clearly and transparently. The Hospital is made out of its own people! Our Hospital is our people! The Pequeno Príncipe Complex is us!

Cooperation, multiprofessional action and interaction between sectors have never been so important. All united in the same purpose and helping without measuring efforts.

This was the great opportunity brought by the difficulties of this pandemic scenario. Undoubtedly, it was put to good use. We know cognitively and affectively that together we are stronger.

Fulfilling the social function beyond the walls of the Hospital, we reach the communities, reinforcing the scientific and proven approaches of responsible care with medicine, especially with pediatrics. In this difficult game of facing the pandemic, Pequeno Príncipe was an important agent for the dissemination of information, clarification and mobilization of parents and caregivers. There were many videos, posts, articles, interviews, lectures and so many strategies to stimulate the practice of care, avoiding the transmission of the coronavirus and the importance of vaccination for our little ones, that are also individuals entitled to rights and protection. We seek to reach the extended family of cities and states and, with social responsibility, we reach homes, computers and cell phones with our message of valuing life.

In this championship that we love to play, the essential element could not be missing, which was our fans. They remained attentive, present, and participatory. Nothing would be possible if the community were not on our side. Making donations, investments, expressions of support and respect on social networks. In short, mobilizing resources, donating their time and talent so that our mission could be fully accomplished. Even in a context of economic restrictions resulting from the pandemic, companies and individuals continued to support us decisively. To all of them, our immense gratitude.

The golden key to this match was also the public recognition and value of our institution by the various sectors of society. The cause of the health of children and adolescents is gaining more support every day, in a virtuous spiral which helps us to deliver quality teaching, research and health and social justice to all who seek us.

Finally, a word to our children, brave warriors for life. To you we pay our admiration, respect, and pride to see you as winners in this challenge for the health and life that we fought together here at Pequeno Príncipe Hospital.

My wish is that in 2022 the world can turn this game around, with a good part of the battle won!

To all our champions, I say: we count on you, and please, count on us too!

Ety da Conceição Gonçalves Forte

President of the Dr. Raul Carneiro Hospital Association for Childhood Protection