History of the National Children's Hospital""Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera""

Abstract

In 1954 the world witnessed a polio epidemic, which extended to the United States and the Caribbean, reaching Costa Rica, where it caused a tragedy for our small population of less than 800 000 inhabitants. The country was thrown into turmoil as 50 000 children were affected, 152 died and more than 1 000 were left with paralytic injuries. The San Juan de Dios Hospital proved unable to take care of so many patients and an atmosphere of panic developed; schools were closed and children did not leave their homes for fear of getting infected.In this context, Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera gave a speech on the radio which he introduced as follows: ""I am inspired by the sweet expression of a child who begins his peaceful sleep this last night of March 1954; we begin as well, with a peaceful spirit and an exited heart, a national campaign to seek greater protection for those children who have lost their health and urgently claim for social medical care.""These deeply felt thoughts gave rise to the idea of building a hospital for the attention only of children. The idea gradually takes shape and moves through different periods: The design of construction plans, obtaining the money for the building, the construction of the hospital and providing it with equipment; as well as the careful planning of its operation.