Bahia Health Team works to help victims of rain in Rio Grande do Sul | Conquista Newspaper

Published in 05/09/2024 – at 17:46

By Editorial | Conquista Newspaper

Almost a week ago, health professionals sent by the Bahia Health Department (Sesab) intensified their activities to help victims of the rains that are ravaging Rio Grande do Sul.

The team, made up of emergency doctor Walbert Alcoforado, emergency nurse Amanda Dantas, the sanitarian from the Center for Strategic Information in Health Surveillance (Cievs) Edson Ribeiro and the sanitarian from Environmental Surveillance Ademildes Campos, is reinforcing assistance to the population facing storms and flooding in the region.

According to the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul, The rains have already caused significant damage, with 107 dead, 136 missing and 374 injured. The Bahian team is concentrated in areas such as El Dourado, Guaíba, Pontal and Menino de Deus, where they rescue victims.

“The vast majority of victims we helped were suffering from hypothermia and had very poor mental health”reports nurse Amanda Dantas, highlighting the importance of support from the Government of Bahia at this delicate moment.

Sanitarian Edson Ribeiro, working in Caxias do Sul, explains that the team is focused on analyzing the post-disaster scenario and developing strategies to minimize the impacts of the tragedy. Furthermore, they are preparing the health system to deal with possible emerging diseases, such as arboviruses and leptospirosis.

Since the previous week, the Ministry of Health has established the Emergency Operations Center for intense rains and flooding in the region, and teams from the SUS National Force were sent to reinforce health care.