Integrative and complementary practices (PICs) are an active part of public health in Nova Lima, a municipality located in the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area. Homeopathy, auricular therapy, acupuncture, Reiki, meditation and prose circle, circle dancing, yoga, and Quantum Informatics (HQI), among other practices, are primary care activities in the municipality.
The service is provided to children, adults and the elderly either in the Municipal Center for Comprehensive Health Care (SEMIS) or in some basic health units. The trained team at PICS consists of doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. .
Retiree Orotildis Costa Silva, 72, talks about her experience with integrative practices. “I have been here since the beginning. This activity has removed my anxiety and anxiety. It has helped me with my health, well-being and family life. I am really happy.” Orotildes’ colleague, retired nursing technician Alva Cardoso, 65, went to the group because of her sister’s illness. “From the first day I came, I cried with emotion at the welcome. I came because of her and it was good for me too. I experience the songs in the density of the words. I am happy with the good work the staff did. I have a good memory, so I met a lot of friends.” “From school, high school and work. I feel like I’m in a good place.” Lucas Evangelista Espindola, 78, also highlighted social interaction. “When I started the group, I felt a little embarrassed to be the only guy. But I started and kept going and it’s really good. I’ve made a lot of friends, and every day, I have another friend.”
Speech therapist trained in integrative practices, Claudia Aparecida Pereira Ogaté, works in Reiki, meditation, ear therapy and other practices at Simais.
Highlights the benefits of circle dancing and prose circle practices. “These activities improve the quality of life, because they promote well-being and personal development, and are a tool for integration, celebration and self-knowledge. In addition to stimulating attention, memory, concentration, body awareness, being in the here and now, motor coordination and balance skills. Francisca Maria Pereira, 85 years old, highlights the work Claudia the professional. “Claudia’s passion is so great. I am very happy to participate. Dancing for me is a blessing. I love. “We relax.”
Andrea Felix dos Santos Alves, a social worker with the Nova Lima City Council for 35 years, has been working in Nova Lima for more than 37 years. Elders’ Rights Policy Coordinator at the Center for the Elderly Community and Chairman of the Elderly Council, Alves highlights that in 2007, PICs brought a new outlook. “Pics provide quality of life. For example, circle dancing, people dancing promotes integration. They have brought great vitality to us in the elderly community centre. Claudia is a distinguished professional in this work. She interacts with the participants and brings out the best results from them,” she says.
Alves highlighted the partnership between institutions. “In the Secretariat of Social Development of Nova Lima, we have, in addition to Claudia, a physical teacher and two physiotherapists. It was a huge gift. The Municipal Health Service always helps us. There is no requirement to separate social development from health and education. The City Council is considering this vision The wide.
In this sense, Caroline Roman is the Director of Health Education and Healthcare Information of the Nova Lima Municipal Health Department and a trained nurse. It indicates the need to spread complementary and complementary practices. “It is very important that we publish PICS. It makes a huge difference in the user’s life.” Roman emphasized the role of the Minas Gerais State Secretariat (SES-MG). “The state offers courses in vocational training and always supports technical issues. He is a great partner.”
According to Roman, health care centers are a complementary service to citizen health. It has brought mental health benefits to the issue of anxiety and depression. Socialization is very important. This group has been together for a long time. People help each other and share knowledge. It works on the body, mind and spirit. It acts on the entire human being. He explains that the practice has this holistic view.
The reference in the PICS of the Regional Sanitary Supervision (SRS) of Belo Horizonte, responsible for the 39 municipalities of the central region of Minas Gerais, Ana Luisa Vieira, highlights the role of the SRS in interaction with municipalities. “The region works by providing technical support to municipalities so that PICS policies are implemented in the regions and thus the service reaches the population.” “Complementary integrative health practices bring many benefits to users, from stress reduction, improving the immune system, disease prevention, and chronic pain relief. Moreover, they promote self-care and even self-esteem among people who practice them,” Alves emphasizes.
Circle dancing
Circle dancing is a partnership between the health sector and the elderly coordinator. This project has been taking place since 2017 every Tuesday between 1:15pm and 3:15pm. It is a project of the Dance and Prose Circle. Circle dancing is for adults, youth and children, while in Nova Lima it is for the elderly.
In May 2006, the SUS understood the benefits of circle dancing and legalized the practice through a decree. It is also called people’s dance. We form a circle and dance side by side. This creates connectedness, collective learning and well-being.
How to access the service
Marcia da Silva, 61, explains that her trip 7 years ago was a medical referral. “What happened to me was like overcoming. I didn’t even lift my feet off the ground. Plus, I have labyrinthitis. This activity brings me socialization and overcoming.”
The user can search for a UBS reference to receive assistance and referral to CEMAIS, at Rua Chalmers, 91, or at UBS itself that offers PICS.
