S.A.C.I.M. - Society for Aid to Children Inoperable in Mauritius

Referral to the Society

Children must be below the age of 18 years.

Before any child can be considered for aid by the Society, a medical certificate from the treating doctor must be supplied, attesting that the child suffers from a surgical condition which cannot be treated in Mauritius and for which treatment can be obtained abroad. X-rays, ECGs, Echos and investigation reports must accompany the medical report.

Children under one year of age and suffering from cyanotic congenital heart disease other than Fallot's Tetralogy as well as children suffering from rheumatic heart disease or from non-significant mental defect may be accepted for aid by the Society after individual consideration of each case.

Medical Examination

After referral to the Society and if fulfilling the above criteria, the child is referred to a panel of S.A.C.I.M. doctors for their opinion.

For all cases, the opinion of two doctors on the S.A.C.I.M. panel is required. Both must agree upon the necessity for referral of the child abroad and sign to that effect. Where the doctors do not agree, a third opinion is sought and a meeting of the panel of S.A.C.I.M. doctors is called.

Investigations are undertaken free of charge in Government hospitals. Should a child suffer from a condition which requires consultation and/or investigation by a specialist outside Government Medical Service, provision exists for payment of a fee to a private practitioner undertaking such work.

Social Circumstances

On initial referral to the Society, a preliminary social enquiry is made by members of the S.A.C.I.M. staff or Committee. After medical examination, a full enquiry into the social circumstances of the child's parents is undertaken by the staff of the Probation & After-Care Service.

Acceptance of Cases

The Central Committee considers each case individually in committee after discussion of the medical and social reports. In urgent cases a telephonic Committee suffices. Aid can only be given when the parents accept the following conditions:


	(a)	S.A.C.I.M. will decide to which country and to which centre abroad the child will be sent.

	(b)	The Committee, on the advice of the doctors who have seen the child, will decide when the child will go.

	(c)	Every effort is made to see that children travelling unaccompanied by a parent accomplish the journey without mishap and suffer no deprivation of affection while abroad.

		However, many medical centres abroad and our Committee Doctors agree that recovery of younger children is aided by the presence of the mother. Some mothers or, in an exceptional case, the father, therefore accompany young children abroad. Such decision is taken after considering each individual case by the S.A.C.I.M. Committee but, under no circumstances can a second parent accompany a child. Parents are asked to agree to accept publication of the child's name and brief details of his condition and treatment.

	(d)	Should a child die for whatever reason while abroad, the Society will pay for the funeral, according to the child's religious faith, in the country of decease but will in no circumstances be responsible for the expenses involved in the return of the body to Mauritius. Consideration might be given to sending the father abroad immediately in such a case.

	(e)	Parents are also asked to give permission for post-mortem examination in the event of death. In the event of the child's death the return ticket will remain the property of the Society.

Aid Given

The Society may, after consideration of the social circumstances of the child's family, decide to give full aid, paying all expenses involved in connection with arrangements for departure (return ticket, etc.) and any expenses incurred abroad. A donation may be asked from the parents, usually in the region of one month's salary. Such a contribution is considered strictly as a donation to the Society and not as a contribution towards expenses involved in sending any particular child abroad.

How we can help you

Referral to the Society