UPGRADING MUNICIPAL FACILITIES

A crucial part of the welfare initiatives is ensuring access to proper health care. Our work is focused in upgrading the existing municipal facilities, for both clinical treatment and social services, including psychological, psychiatric and welfare support. Emergency actions are maintained up to the present date with a team of physicians, nurses, social assistants, psychologists and psychiatrists, providing care for the affected population in the Basic Health Care Units (UBS). This includes buying materials and providing a car service for people with no means of transportation.

A new stage is commencing in 2017, when emergency actions will begin to be replaced by more structuring initiatives, such as providing specialized care services to the elderly, the young population and activities like occupational therapy, a request made by the local community based in Mariana and surroundings.

Another main initiative involves carrying out an epidemiological and toxicological study, that is currently under the process of definition of its Terms of Reference, so that an expert consulting partner can be hired. This engagement will embrace the entire affected area and will help us determine the size of the impact on the health of this large population and the measures that need to be taken.

THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE

Engagement and maximizing knowledge of the myriad complex issues facing us. it was with this in mind that we brought together an interdisciplinary panel on January 19 and 20, 2017 to debate the relationship between yellow fever and ecosystem changes in the Doce river basin. The meeting can be seen from start to finish on the website of Renova Foundation.

It was attended by scientists and researchers from the fields of ecology, veterinary sciences, biology, microbiology and biodiversity. Experts determined there is no conclusive connection between the collapse of the dam and the outbreak of yellow fever.