Secretary of Health of Pernambuco says she will attend the public hearing in Alepe

The Secretary of Health of Pernambuco, Zilda Cavalcantistated that he will be present at the public hearing of the Legislative Assembly (Alepe) on the situation of children with microcephaly in the State, next Monday (29/04), although he requested the postponement of the meeting because it will take place on the same day as the State Conference for the Defense of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Zilda informed that if there is no postponement, she will accept the decision of the Legislative power and will attend the hearing. Until the closing of this text, at 10pm this Friday (26), the hearing was maintained.

Zilda Cavalcanti was summoned by the Assembly to provide clarifications at the meeting. The event was scheduled after the president of the House, deputy Álvaro Porto (PSDB)received, last week, a complaint from the president of Angel Mothers Association, Germana Soares, regarding the difficulty families have in obtaining surgeries to resolve children’s orthopedic problems in the state health network. According to Porto, Germana Soares reported having been mistreated by employees of the Health’s Secretaryin addition to the lack of care for patients.

“It turns out that even in the face of the emergency situation, the report indicating surgery and the intense suffering of the children, the State Government does not forward the cases and no longer offers answers to the appeals made by Germana and the other family members”, stated the president of Alepe.

During an event at Palácio do Campo dasa Princesas, this Friday afternoon (26), the Secretary of Health said that she was unaware of this information. “I had a meeting scheduled with her (Germana Soares) today and she canceled it. She has always been attended to by the State”, declared Zilda Cavalcanti, adding “I am available, anyone who knows me knows that I am extremely available”.

According to Zilda Cavalcanti, the children’s surgeries began to be carried out. “We had surgery yesterday (25), we are going to do another next Thursday, and we are forming partnerships with philanthropic hospitals, including the accreditation for Cuida PE (state elective surgery program) will be published. Hip surgery of children with Zika virus syndrome is included. It is possible to do many (surgeries) because there are several hospitals at the same time”, highlighted the secretary.