Maternal and Child Health. A five-century past. The present of an exemplary service

Account of the history and current state of the intervention of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa in the area of maternal and child health, narrated in a journalistic style. The authors invite readers on a challenging journey made in two times. In the first moment, in the section titled “Tradition of Care,” the path of the extensive journey taken in national maternal and child assistance is followed, a journey as long as that of the centuries-old institution in Lisbon. From the 15th century to the present day, from the old wheel of exposed infants to the Maternal House or Dispensaries to modern Health Units, there is much to learn about the history of care provided to motherhood and childhood over the last five centuries. From the past to the present, the second part, titled “Inside Love,” portrays the daily life of the W Jovem Health Unit, a service of the Misericórdia de Lisboa aimed at working with disadvantaged adolescents. Here, the “CresSer” project, a support program for young mothers in risky situations, gains special relevance. These are life stories that the Santa Casa has enabled to have a happy ending. This publication inaugurates the “Cadernos Solidários SCML” collection, an editorial series that showcases the work developed by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa in its different areas of intervention.

Author: Ana Gomes and Dora Santos
Collection: Solidarity Notebooks

Year of publication: 2008
Publisher: SCML
ISBN: 9789728761295