Organisation: Renovatio
Location: Brazil

Renovatio is taking ophthalmology to the most remote and vulnerable places in Brazil With vehicles adapted into mobile eye clinics, Renovatio's story is evidence that every initiative can transform realities. Every consultation counts, every pair of eyeglasses donated counts, every story counts.

Quick, free and effective care reaches Helena Abia, 12 years old, is a student at EMEF Professor Domingos Rubino, located in São Paulo. Since she was little, her mother noticed a dark spot on her right eye, but without any apparent complaints or previous referrals. In 2024, during an action of the Avança Saúde Escolar – Ophthalmology Program, coordinated by the Suel Abujamra Institute (ISA), the team performed ophthalmological exams directly at the school and identified the lesion as a suspected conjunctival melanoma, a rare but potentially serious tumor that can compromise vision if not treated early. The response was immediate: Helena was urgently referred to the ISA Hospital, a reference in ophthalmology in the city. According to her mother, the appointment took place on a Friday at school, and the hospital contacted her the following Monday to schedule specialized care. More detailed examinations were performed, and the medical team concluded that it was a benign tumor – the most common type of conjunctival lesion. Even so, the case continues to be closely monitored, with continued use of eye drops and the possibility of surgery in the future, if the spot shows any changes.