Fiotec supports Fiocruz in project “To Strengthen Haiti’s Healthcare System, in the scope of the Tripartite Brazil - Cuba - Haiti Cooperation Program”, with the objective to reconstruct Haitian healthcare system.Before the earthquake which devastated the country in January 2010, around 40% of the population had no access to basic healthcare.The proposal is that the healthcare service has a performance which is better than the precarious situation existing before the earthquake, serving the population on an integrated basis.

To do so, the project intends to identify and reconstruct the affected physical structures, to develop actions in the hygiene, public health and sanitation areas, in addition to reinforcing the response capacity of the Haitian Ministry of Health in case of catastrophe.The role of Brazil is to fund and provide infrastructure for actions and services, while Cuba is responsible for the logistic support to the operations and dispatch of healthcare professionals to Haiti.

At long-term, the objective is that the country is self-sufficient in the public health management, following the Brazilian Healthcare System (SUS) model.The inclusion of Fiocruz in the Brazilian Ministry of Health Working Group is due to the fact that the several units of the Foundation have expertise in this cooperation areas.Part of this articulation are the Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca [National Public Health School Sergio Arouca] (Ensp), Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnologia em Saúde [Institute of Scientific Communication and Information and Health Technology (ICICT) and Canal Saúde da Fiocruz [Fiocruz Health Channel].

Ensp will participate in the Epidemiological Surveillance program and in the National Immunization Program.ICICT will assist with the implementation of the information system and will allow the cross-communication of the projects.The Canal Saúde will help with the implementation of a communication system directed to the population, with strong participation of the Haitians.

Fiocruz program management coordination will be under the responsibility of the International Health Relations Center (CRIS), which will be Fiocruz’s focal point in the cooperation program.Fiotec, as the support foundation to Fiocruz, contributes with this mission intended to strength Haiti’s Healthcare System, enabling, thus, to reach the objectives, goals and results.

Source: Fiocruz

Photo: Ricardo Barcelos

*Article published in Tecnologia Cidadã magazine, by Confies.