On Friday (3), the Ministry of Health authorized the payment of approximately 540 million Brazilian reals in the form of parliamentary amendments to the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This transfer comes as a result of the Ministry’s efforts in partnership with the General Secretariat of Relations Institutions (SRI), to support and provide assistance to municipalities affected by Climate tragedy. The ministry will also establish a public health emergency operations center (COE) for heavy rains and floods in the southern region. The decree was published in an additional edition of the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) on Friday. The aim is to coordinate emergency response activities resulting from the heavy rains witnessed in the past few days.
The idea is for the center to plan, organize, coordinate and monitor the measures to be used during assistance actions. The committee also coordinates with the directors of the Unified Health System (SUS) at the state, regional and municipal levels and with other bodies and entities affiliated with the public authority to take the necessary measures to deal with the emergency, such as sending teams and supplies, preparing technical reports on the epidemiological situation and conducting the necessary administrative procedures.
“It is time to intensify care and unite the efforts of the community as a whole and public managers to mitigate the effects of the situation and support the local population in facing the consequences of these disasters. The installation of the COE is another measure by the Federal Government to support the affected population and save lives,” highlighted Minister of Health Nicia Trindade.
Responsibility for coordinating the Center of Excellence lies with the Public Health Emergency Department of the Ministry of Health, and in addition to the entire structure of the Ministry, the group will also mobilize institutions such as the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. (Fiocruz), the National Council of Health Secretaries (CONASS), the National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries (CONASEMS), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The government joins efforts to support victims
The federal government is taking emergency action to help rain victims in Rio Grande do Sul, mobilizing health professionals and sending emergency kits to serve up to 30,000 people a month. President Lula visited the region and promised financial support for health, transportation and food, stressing that the government will do everything in its power to meet the needs of the affected population. Health teams are present at the site to prevent major problems, while the National Institute of Meteorology warns of the high risk of damage and accidents due to heavy rains.
Since April 26, the state has witnessed daily rainfall exceeding 200 mm, causing floods, torrential rains and landslides. Rio Grande do Sul declared a general disaster after recording more than 17,000 displaced people, 7,000 displaced persons, 56 wounded, 186 missing people, and 31 deaths. According to the state Department of Health, 93 institutions were affected and 24 municipalities reported losing medicines and supplies. State Civil Defense estimates indicate that 235 cities were affected, or nearly half of the state’s municipalities.
Forecasts by the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) indicate that the scenario will extend over the next few days and reach more areas, such as the municipalities of Paraná and Santa Catarina.
Ministry of Health
“Writer. Analyst. Avid travel maven. Devoted twitter guru. Unapologetic pop culture expert. General zombie enthusiast.”
