Free center supports children with disabilities in Argentina
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In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Madre Teresa de Calcuta center provides free rehabilitation therapies to children with disabilities who lack medical coverage.
The center, founded in 2007 by the Disability Commission of the Buenos Aires Archbishopric, serves families even from surrounding towns. It currently treats around 60 children, offering speech, physical, psychological, occupational, and psychopedagogical therapies. Many of the children, like six-year-old Rosa who has Apert syndrome, cannot access public healthcare benefits because they lack a required disability certificate.
Their families often struggle financially, making private therapies impossible. The center’s founder, Father Pablo Molero, notes they are unable to help all who seek their services and maintain a waiting list. The Madre Teresa center receives funding through private donations and small contributions from families who can afford to pay. Despite limited resources, it operates on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, providing vital support to children and alleviating the burden on families.
The center often receives referrals from public hospitals, health centers, and schools. According to estimates, around 1.3 million children and adolescents in Argentina have disabilities, but only about 505,000 possess the necessary certification to receive free therapies. The center strives to fill this gap, helping children like Rosa gain independence, improve communication, and thrive in school.
