Minister went to Rio Grande do Sul to discuss how to face the future of health in the State with municipal managers, sector authorities and the scientific community
The Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, met on Tuesday (May 28, 2024) with municipal managers, representatives of the SUS National Force (FN-SUS)health authorities and scientific society of Rio Grande do Sul to discuss actions to combat pathologies caused by floods and intense rains that hit the State in recent weeks. The meeting took place during the 1st Surveillance Work Workshop, held at the Conceição Hospital Group (GHC).
The meeting was attended by the state secretary of health, Arita Bergmann, the secretary of Health of Porto Alegre and vice-president of the Council of Municipal Health Secretariats of Rio Grande do Sul (Cosems/RS), Fernando Ritter, among other authorities . The tripartite dialogues were focused on analyzing and implementing strategies to mitigate the effects of recent calamities.
During the event, Minister Nísia Trindade thanked the state and municipal secretariats for the immediate and effective response to the emergency, but emphasized the need to maintain and intensify efforts to rebuild health structures damaged by the storms and develop action plans to combat the diseases resulting from environmental disasters.
“It is time to thank the efforts of everyone involved who, in the face of such a tragedy, acted promptly to assist the population of Rio Grande do Sul. Thank you very much. However, the actions cannot stop here. Care has begun and will not stop, with the Ministry of Health available to meet everyone’s needs”stated the minister.
Increase in cases of infection
In the discussions, managers presented the main health measures implemented and the prospects for an increase in cases of infections after exposure to contaminating agents present in accumulated water. The contact of river waters with garbage, chemicals and urban dirt increases the likelihood of spreading diseases such as cholera, leptospirosis, hepatitis A and B, as well as other gastrointestinal infections. Furthermore, low temperatures create an environment conducive to the development of respiratory diseases.
The Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ethel Maciel, reviewed the actions and measures adopted by the Ministry of Health and declared that it is time to “focus on the diagnoses” of the epidemiological situation in the affected municipalities and “draw plans” to guarantee health care during and after the impacts of the tragedy in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
With the meeting, the perspective is to strengthen collaboration between the federal government and the state and municipal spheres in the construction of new action plans to guarantee the reestablishment of access to health and well-being for the population.
With information from Ministry of Health
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