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Operations
June 22, 2026

Initiatives in Arica and Chiloé Reduce Pediatric Waiting Lists

More than 50 children were able to undergo surgery thanks to new medical campaigns organized by Corporación MATER in collaboration with local health services and various partner institutions.

In May, the MATER Children's Kidney Foundation conducted new surgical campaigns in Arica and Chiloé, helping to reduce pediatric waiting lists and bringing specialized care to children in different parts of the country.

At the Dr. Juan Noé Regional Hospital in Arica, MATER carried out a joint operation with the Arica and Parinacota Health Service, which made it possible to perform surgery on more than thirty pediatric patients who required procedures for hernias, cryptorchidism, and circumcision. The initiative brought together a team of ten volunteer professionals, including a pediatric urologist, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and a nurse, and is the first in a series of operations planned for the region this year.

The event was made possible thanks to the support of the Alegría Fund and the Acrux Foundation, organizations that consistently collaborate on the development of these types of initiatives.

Medical staff at the Dr. Juan Noé Regional Hospital in Arica.

A few days earlier, MATER teams traveled to the main island of Chiloé to carry out a new operation in collaboration with the Chiloé Health Service and the Castro General Hospital. On May 22 and 23, 24 outpatient pediatric surgeries were performed, addressing conditions such as phimosis, paraphimosis, and cryptorchidism in two operating rooms that operated simultaneously.

The deputy director of Clinical Management at the Chiloé Health Service, Dr. Julio Morales, highlighted the importance of this collaborative effort, noting that it makes it possible to “provide healthcare and treat patients on the waiting list in their own homes.”

The operation also received support from Sky Airlines and the Alegría Foundation for the transportation of the medical team.

Through these initiatives, MATER continues to work to ensure that more children can receive the care they need in a timely manner, regardless of distance or where they live.

More articles

The partnership will enable the development of various initiatives in urological and nephrological health, with a special focus on children.
Dr. Francisca Yankovic is a pediatric surgeon and urologist who trained at the University of Chile and completed a subspecialty fellowship at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. An associate professor at the University of Chile, director of the Pediatric Urology training program, and past president of the Chilean Society of Pediatric Surgery, she has firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by children with complex urological conditions. For nearly a decade, she has volunteered with Corporación MATER, an experience that has confirmed to her that improving access to healthcare can change a life.
Dr. Renato Gana has been associated with Corporación Mater since its inception. As a pediatric urologist, he participated in the first surgical campaigns and has been part of an initiative that aims to provide specialized surgery to children living in regions where treating certain conditions can be much more difficult.
The MATER Children's Kidney Foundation brought together those who helped it take its first steps to thank them for three decades of support, solidarity, and work on behalf of children throughout Chile.
Dr. José Manuel Escala is the founder and president of Corporación Mater. As the organization marks its 30th anniversary, we sat down with him to discuss its origins, its major achievements, and the need to carry this work forward—a conversation in which he also acknowledges and thanks those who have played a vital role along the way.
For the past four years, Constanza Olivares has been the coordinator of highly complex surgical operations carried out by the MATER Corporation throughout Chile. A nurse and midwife by profession, she speaks of her work with conviction and gratitude: "The Corporation has allowed me to develop not only professionally, but also to provide more care to patients. And that, for me, is tremendously satisfying."