In Marabá, volunteering brings hope to over 10,000 patients at the Regional Hospital
From January to August 2025, more than 250 care and support actions contributed to lighten the routine of users at the Pará Government unit
Time in a health unit is often counted in consultations, exams, and treatments. At the Regional Hospital of Southeast Pará – Dr. Geraldo Veloso (HRSP), in Marabá, it is also marked by hugs, songs that break the silence, and generate stories of hope. Between January and August 2025, more than 250 volunteer actions reached around 10,000 patients and users.
Admitted for over 20 days in the pediatric clinic, Carla Lorrane, 10 years old, a resident of São Geraldo do Araguaia, in the Carajás region, continues her orthopedic treatment. Among exams and medical care, she found in the visits from volunteers small windows of childhood, which return smiles and make the days inside the hospital lighter.
"It’s the happiest day of the week, they play with us, I even forget a little that I’m in the hospital. We laugh, sing, and have fun; it feels like the room turns into a playroom. When they arrive, everything gets lighter, and we feel better," explained Carla.
The initiatives bring together professionals and community members willing to share time, talent, and affection. There are clowns who elicit laughter, musicians who bring songs as medicine, artisans who teach new skills, and caregivers who offer listening and support. Each voluntary gesture multiplies into smiles, making the journey of those facing pain a little lighter and full of meaning.
For those accompanying a loved one, volunteering is a balm. Maria das Dores, 45 years old, a resident of Itupiranga, in the Tucuruí Lake region, who experienced clown therapy in the hospital, recalls the feeling of relief amid the worry for her son.
"When the clowns arrive, the hospital transforms. They make us laugh and remind us that life is beautiful, even in difficult moments. I was worried about my son, but that day I managed to laugh and felt my heart lighter. They bring joy not only to the children but also to the mothers and families who are here," Maria shared.
For Daiane Uszynski, a humanization analyst and responsible for the volunteer program, the initiative directly contributes to the recovery of patients. "Volunteering is a form of care that goes beyond medical treatment. Each visit brings support and hope, making the experience in the hospital lighter. When the volunteer arrives, they transform the environment and restore to people the certainty that they are not alone in this delicate moment," she emphasized.
Volunteer Network
The volunteer program at the Regional Hospital of Marabá, managed by the Institute of Social and Environmental Health of the Amazon (ISSAA), in partnership with the State Department of Public Health (Sespa), brings together more than 60 active volunteers. They work in different areas, such as artistic and cultural activities, aesthetic care, religious actions, and other initiatives that bring affection and support to patients and their families.
Psychopedagogue Joelma Trindade, leading the project Tales of Hope, describes the experience as a meeting of worlds. "When I start to tell, I notice that they disconnect from the hospital and enter another reality. It’s as if the pain takes a break and gives way to dreams. For me, each attentive look and each smile are proof that imagination also heals and transforms," she highlighted.
In the Neonatal ICU, each song not only cradles a baby but also the hope of a family. Gabi Silva, a volunteer of the project "Acalanto," explains that music creates bonds. "When I sing to a baby, I feel like I’m telling them they are not alone. The crying calms, the gaze brightens, and the silence of the hospital fills with life. It’s a simple gesture, but it strengthens the bond and even contributes to their recovery," she shared.
Recently, the volunteers were honored at a special event, where they received recognition for the impact of their actions. The celebration reinforced the importance of the work that, silently, colors the hospital routine with hope.
For Alan Ferreira, the hospital's care director, volunteering is a link that unites care and community. "The volunteer brings with them the strength of solidarity and helps us transform moments of pain into experiences of hope. Each simple gesture expands our work and shows that the hospital is not alone but walks alongside the community," he emphasized.
Structure - The care at the Public Regional Hospital of Southeast is 100% free, linked to the Unified Health System (SUS). The unit has 135 beds, including 97 for clinical admission and 38 for Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
Text by Ederson Oliveira
