Instituto Alok has established a partnership with Hospital São Marcos (Teresina, PI) to support the institution through a donation for the acquisition and implantation of PICC lines (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters) in 93 children receiving pediatric oncology care through Brazil’s public health system (SUS). The PICC provides safe and long-lasting venous access for chemotherapy and medication administration. It also reduces pain, trauma, and the stress caused by multiple venous punctures.
The Mais Vida, Menos Dor project, developed in collaboration with the Multidisciplinary Pediatric Oncology Team and Medical Staff, improves the quality and continuity of oncological treatment, reduces the risk of complications and unnecessary hospitalizations, provides support to families, and increases hospital efficiency. It is a humanized initiative with a direct impact on patients’ lives.
Through this donation, it will be possible to:
- Acquire 93 PICC lines (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters);
- Enable PICC implantation procedures carried out by a specialized medical team;
- Reduce the number of repetitive venous punctures, minimizing pain, stress, and physical and emotional trauma for pediatric patients;
- Ensure greater safety in the administration of chemotherapy agents, antibiotics, and other intravenous medications;
- Decrease the risk of clinical complications, extravasation, and treatment interruptions; and
- Guide family members and caregivers on the necessary care for the device throughout treatment.
For Dr. Marcelo Luíz Floriano, Technical and Hospital Care Director of Hospital São Marcos, “the partnership with Instituto Alok represents a significant step forward in improving care provided to child and adolescent patients. The initiative will enable the acquisition and implementation of the PICC — Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter — an essential technology to ensure greater safety, comfort, and pain reduction during chemotherapy and other intravenous procedures. The use of PICC will contribute significantly to the quality of life of the children and adolescents treated, reducing repeated punctures, lowering the risk of complications, and making treatment more humane and less traumatic.
Hospital São Marcos expresses its gratitude for the support and partnership of DJ Alok, which strengthens the commitment to promoting health, dignified care, and hope for children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment.”
Local context
The region served by the hospital presents significant demand for specialized high-complexity care, receiving children and adolescents from various municipalities, many of them in situations of social and economic vulnerability. Many families rely exclusively on the public health system and face difficulties with transportation, accommodation, food, and treatment continuity.
Among the main vulnerabilities are early childhood cancer diagnosis, emotional impact on families, financial limitations, and physical suffering resulting from repeated invasive procedures, such as multiple venous punctures for medication administration.
According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), a significant portion of the Brazilian population relies exclusively on the SUS, underscoring the importance of strengthening philanthropic and oncology reference hospitals. Childhood and adolescent cancer is among the leading causes of disease-related death in the pediatric age group in Brazil, requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment.
About Hospital São Marcos
Hospital São Marcos, located in Teresina (PI), has consolidated expertise in oncology care, with a history of humanized patient care and ongoing work in the treatment of high-complexity patients, developing initiatives aimed at improving care quality and patient safety.
