WILLEMSTAD – Ronald McDonald House Curaçao has launched a new transportation initiative aimed at helping families overcome one of the biggest barriers to healthcare access for children on the island.
The program, called Wheels of Love, will provide free and reliable transportation for families traveling to and from the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC), ensuring that children requiring medical care can attend appointments and receive treatment without transportation difficulties getting in the way.
The initiative was developed following a joint analysis conducted by Ronald McDonald House Curaçao and the Pediatrics Department at CMC. The study found that transportation is the largest unmet need facing families with sick children.
According to the organizations, a lack of reliable transportation often results in missed medical appointments, interrupted treatments, and fewer opportunities for parents to visit children who are hospitalized.
The program is specifically designed to assist children requiring long-term medical care, families experiencing transportation challenges, parents visiting hospitalized children, and participants in community health education activities.
Transportation requests will be coordinated jointly by Ronald McDonald House Curaçao and the hospital’s Pediatrics Department. Participating families will be able to arrange rides directly through a mobile application, simplifying access to the service.
Claudia Rigaud, Director of Ronald McDonald House Curaçao, emphasized that access to healthcare begins with the ability to physically reach medical services.
“Access to healthcare starts with being able to get to the hospital,” Rigaud said. “With this program, an important barrier is removed, allowing children to receive the care they need and enabling families to remain close to their child.”
The Wheels of Love program is fully funded by the private sector. Organizers believe the initiative will contribute to greater continuity of care, stronger family involvement in treatment and recovery, and ultimately better health outcomes for children across Curaçao.
By addressing transportation challenges, Ronald McDonald House Curaçao hopes to ensure that families can focus on their child’s health rather than the logistical difficulties of getting to medical appointments and hospital visits.
Photo credit: Ronald McDonalds House Curaçao