Imprensa

Centro Eva Lindstedt

Of Brazil’s 1.6 million visually impaired children, approximately 60% suffer from toxoplasmosis and 25% from rubella, a virus dangerous for pregnant women. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite, transmitted through cat faces or contaminated meat

After ophthalmologist Silvia Veitzman learned of the methods used at Tomteboda Resource Center (TRC) in Solna, Sweden, to rehabilitate visually impaired children through Eva Lindstedt and her staff in 1986, she started the first center at the Santa Casa Hospital in Sao Paulo, now the "Centro Eva Lindstedt"(CEL).

Early donors included TRC, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Liss & Nils Rosenblad Foundation for Humanitarian Purposes, Scania do Brasil other Swedish companies, The Swedish Institute, Hilton Perkins Intemational, the Kristinehamn Rotary Club the Karlstad Solstaden Rotary Club, in Sweden, the Swedish Government's Forum Syd, and Christoffel Blindenmission in Germany. Today there are 18 "Low-Vision" centers in Brazil and neighboring countries thanks to the Brazilian-Swedish program.

Ophthalmologists from other parts of Brazil have attended courses and some have started clinics based on CEL methods.

The center gathers statistics for development and research with a new database under development. Vision recovery treatment is carried out in an outpatient department for examinations and treatment at the Santa Casa Hospital. The center prepares a treatment plan for every patient, tests glasses and makes prescriptions, provides training, visual stimulation, information/education for parents, and school counseling. The care capacity in Sao Paulo is about 700 children with defective vision every year. CEL also disseminates information to help prevent visual loss and increase awareness among risk groups and offers support to parents who receive advice on how to deal with the child's problems. CEL offers intemal and extemal courses, seminars, and workshops for participants from all over South America and shares its database with other professionals.

Programs include the WHO project for the prevention of blindness, The ROP project jointly with the Cristoffel Blindenmission to suggest a "screening model" to control Retinopathy of Prematurity, and The Welcome Project, which provides a period of adjustment for the child's mother, to participate in the child's process of development (supported by Rotary in Sweden).

Previously children were sent home when they came to a hospital seeking treatment for visual loss because the professionals could not communicate with babies and small children to diagnose eye damage. When Dr. Silvia Veitzman learned at TRC in Sweden how to communicate with young children, she transferred this knowledge to Brazilian specialists through the CEL program, which made it possible to separate blindness from low vision. In 10 years, CEL has treated 300 children a year, reaching at least 3,000 families.

To develop the project further and optimize results, the Center now wants to set up a foundation to finance activities and welcomes contributions in funds or know-how, in the medical, juridical, technical, administrative spheres. Product support like medicine, optical equipment, toys, office supplies, and used computers, or service support like printing of information material and transportation is also welcome. Those interested should contact:

Dr. Eva Lindstedt
Assistant Professor at TRC, Sweden.
Phone: +46-8-6450154 • E-mail: eva.lindstedt@mbox301.swipnet.se

Dr. Silvia Veitzman
Founder & Coordinator
Centro Eva Lindstedt, Brazil
Phone: +55-11-221-5881 • E-mail: veitzman@uol.com.br

Torbjörn Johansson
Administrative Coordinator
Centro Eva Lindstedt, Brazil
Phone: +55-11-221-5881 ■ E-mail: centroel@uol.com.br

Knut Johansson
Previous president of Rotary Club in Kristinehamn, Sweden
President of CEL's Steering Committee, Sweden
Phone: +46-550-56013 • E-mail: mdl5950@dredd.swipnet.se

Harry Svensson
Chief Research Scientist at TRC, Sweden
Phone: +46-8-470 07038 • E-mail: harry@trc.se

Krister Holm, Citibank
President of CEL's Steering Committee, Brazil
Phone: +55-11-576-2071 • E-mail: krister.holm@citicorp.com

Anders Lindow
Priest of the Scandinavian Church and member of CEL's Steering Committee, Brazil Phone: +55-11-247 8829 • E-mail: skanpaulo@originet.com.br

Sonja Rydén
Headmistress of the Scandinavian School and member of CEL's Steering Committee. Brazil Phone: +55-11-548 2236