In the decade of 1960, the daily contact with the many difficulties experienced by the Pelotas’ population, took a group of Lutherans of the congregations of Pelotas to begin a joint work of social assistance, by founding the SARE – Serviço de Assistência Redenção, with headquarters in Rua Voluntários da Pátria, 1641. In that place, SARE created a kindergarten for children in need up to 6 years old, where started providing medical and dental care in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine of Pelotas. 

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In late 70s, the SARE opened space for their care actions, this time in Vila Santos Dumont, Pelotas, focusing on the healthcare area. The creation of the Unidade de Atenção Básica was pioneer in Pelotas and the second initiative of this kind in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in order to decentralize the caring action in primary care, as advocated by the International Conference on Primary Health Care held in Alma-Ata (USSR) in 1978:

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Health, which is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being – and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity – is a fundamental right of human beings. Access to the highest attainable standard of health is an extremely important social goal of the whole world, and assumes the participation of many socio-economic sectors, not just those related to health.

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Thus, the Unidade Básica de Saúde da Vila Municipal was founded. It resulted from the intervention of people connected with international movements that criticized the hegemonic production model of health care. As noted this movement is represented especially by the International Conference of Primary Healthcare, known as the Alma Ata Conference.

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In June, 7 of 1980 ABELUPE – Associação Beneficente Luterana de Pelotas was founded as a non-profit charity association and absorbed all the activities that were being developed by the SARE, both in Rua Voluntários da Pátria and Vila Santos Dumont.

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The primary healthcare activities carried out in Vila Santos Dumont led to the identification of a very high degree of needs in the community, which led ABELUPE to install, in 1986, a new kindergarten to accommodate children up to six, who were at risk.

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The Unidade Básica the Saúde, as well as the kindergarten, have being developing articulated and complementary actions considering the concept of integral attention to healthcare. The diagnoses of social risky situations made by the UBS point out the families that needed help from the kindergarten. Once inserted in that socio-educational program, the children and their families are subject to a number of protective and development actions.

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In 1989, ABELUPE concentrated all its activities in Vila Santo Dumont, due to the needs of the population served and its possibilities. In this place, there are already 39 years working in the primary healthcare area and 30 years maintaining the kindergarten.