Health takes stock of actions to combat Covid-19 in Brazil
R $ 44.17 billion was invested in facing the disease
Nov 21, Sao Paulo: Since the beginning of the crisis caused by Covid-19, the Federal Government has been strengthening the structure of the Unified Health System (SUS) with deliveries of equipment, supplies and resources to fight the disease.
Through the Ministry of Health, the Government has already allocated R $ 178.3 billion to the 26 states and the Federal District. Of this total, R $ 134.16 billion went to routine SUS services, and the other R $ 44.17 billion to cope with Covid-19.
The portfolio has been giving unrestricted support to states and municipalities in the acquisition and delivery of pulmonary ventilators, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), medications, in addition to enabling and extending ICU beds.
Also, read- Majority of patients with hypertension and diabetes undergo health care in SUS
To date, 15,685 ICU beds have been enabled for the exclusive treatment of patients with Covid-19, of which 237 are pediatric ICUs. In addition, 11,908 ICU beds were extended. The amount invested by the Federal Government is R $ 2.8 billion, for states and municipalities to pay for these units for the next 90 days or while there is a need due to the new coronavirus.
The public health network had its intensive care structure expanded with the delivery, so far, of 11,797 new lung ventilators purchased by the Ministry of Health, for the treatment of critically ill patients with the coronavirus in all states and the Federal District. With the purchase, SUS now has 58,460 lung ventilators distributed in all regions of the country.
So far, five contracts have been signed with Brazilian companies for the production of 16,252 lung ventilators. Distribution to municipalities and health units is the responsibility of each state, according to local planning. Deliveries take into account the installed capacity of the public health care network, especially in places where transmission is taking place at a higher speed.
Legacy
The equipment is part of one of Covid-19's legacy to SUS and gives health managers the ability to create ICU beds for general care, not just for the new coronavirus. The Brazilian industry also leaves a legacy by developing cutting-edge technology for the production of pulmonary ventilators.
Also, read- Majority of patients with hypertension and diabetes undergo health care in SUS
The folder also enabled, since the beginning of the crisis, 1,430 beds of ventilatory support aimed at the exclusive care of confirmed or suspected patients of Covid-19. Of this total, 1,035 beds were extended, with investments of approximately R $ 35.4 million by the Federal Government. The beds are temporarily enabled for 30 days but can be extended due to the epidemiological situation of the coronavirus in Brazil.
The beds have simpler structures than those of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and must receive patients with signs of respiratory failure. Treatment in these beds also helps to prevent worsening of the disease.
Personal protective equipment
The Ministry of Health has already distributed 301.5 million Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure the protection of health professionals who work on the front lines of the fight against Covid-19 in Brazil. They are masks, aprons, glasses and face shields, caps, sneakers, gloves and alcohol. The measure is yet another action by the Federal Government to strengthen the security of care in the public health network of Brazilian states and municipalities.
In all, the Ministry of Health has already delivered 564,900 litres of alcohol to the states; 3.1 million aprons; 38.8 million gloves; 26.5 million N95 masks; 210.6 million surgical masks; 2.4 million glasses and face shields; and 19.3 million caps and sneakers. The materials were delivered to the state health departments.
The purchase of PPE is the responsibility of the states and municipalities. However, due to the worldwide scarcity of these materials, in this scenario of emergency in public health, the Ministry of Health used the purchasing power to make purchases in unrestricted support to the local SUS managers and, thus, strengthen the public health network in the coping with the disease in all states.
Also, read- Majority of patients with hypertension and diabetes undergo health care in SUS
Indigenous Health
Between November 4 and 7, the Volante Health Team of the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health (SESAI), made up of gynaecologist, a paediatrician and general practitioner, reinforced health care in the Guajajara and Krikati indigenous communities of the Special Indigenous Health District (DSEI) Maranhão. 3.3 thousand calls were made.
The DSEI Maranhão serves a population of 37,167 indigenous people, of 11 ethnic groups, in 629 villages. SESAI sent more than 94 thousand items of supplies between medicines, test for Covid-19 and EPI. The action reinforced the work of the 754 DSEI health professionals who work directly in the villages providing basic health care.
Also in November, SESAI promoted, between 3 and 12, the interministerial mission in the Upper Rio Juruá, on the border between Acre and Peru. The action had logistical support and health professionals from the Ministry of Defense to reinforce the Multidisciplinary Indigenous Health Teams (EMSI) of the DSEI Alto Rio Juruá that operate in the region. There were more than 3 tons of medicines, supplies, PPE and tests for Covid-19.
Also, read- Majority of patients with hypertension and diabetes undergo health care in SUS
Transparency
Transparency and the use of technology for public health are hallmarks of the administration of the Minister of Health, Eduardo Pazuello. Through the Localiza SUS platform, the population can monitor the amount of PPE, medications and pulmonary ventilators distributed to each state. The online panel also shows the number of beds enabled throughout the country, tests delivered and inputs made available, informing the citizen about everything that was purchased, donated and distributed to face Covid-19.
Continue reading more from the below Tags
