(Foto: Márcia Foletto/Agência O Globo)

It was published on Monday (11/1), in an extraordinary edition of the Brazilian Federal Register (Diário Oficial da União, DOU), the presidential ordinance with the appointment of Nísia Trindade Lima to the office of President of Fiocruz, for the 2021-2024 management term. Nísia has been elected in the first place on the triple list approved unanimously by the Fiocruz Deliberative Council and presented to the Minister of Health, Eduardo Pazuello, in November last year. The 2020 Fiocruz Election was the most expressive election in the history of the institution, with the participation of 4,400 voters, that is, 91.6% of the 4,847 public servants able to vote. 

This Monday, in the morning, Trindade Lima met with the President's Chief of Staff, General Braga Netto, in Brasilia, to discuss the completion of the nomination process for president of the institution. On the occasion, Trindade Lima presented the results and achievements of her management, as well as perspectives and proposals for the next term, with emphasis on Fiocruz Science, Technology and Innovation system and its role for the Brazilian Universal Care System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS).

The meeting, conducted by General Braga Netto, accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Elcio Franco, representing the Minister Eduardo Pazuello, was attended by the Federal Government Officials; amongst them, the Executive Secretary of the Office of the President's Chief of Staff, the Executive Secretary of the Government Secretariat , the President's Chief of Staff, the Executive Secretary of the General Secretariat, Deputy Leader of the Sub-Board of Articulation and Monitoring (Subchefia de Articulação e Monitoramento, SAM), the Deputy Leader of the Sub-Board of Government Action (Subchefia de Ação Governamental, SAG), the Deputy Leader of the Special Secretariat of Government Relations (Secretaria Especial de Relações Governamentais, SERG), and the Deputy Leader of the Special Secretariat for External Relationship (Secretaria Especial para Relacionamento Externo, SEREX). After the meeting, Trindade Lima also met the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro.

Nísia Trindade Lima received 3,784 votes for the first place (87% of the valid votes). “Once again I will be president of you all, expanding the both our internal dialogue and the conversation with the many scopes of the Government, the powers of the Republic and the civil society. I promise to continue leading our institution with the same commitment, serenity and firmness of the last four years,” said the president in her letter of gratitude sent to Fiocruz community. 

Strengthening Democracy

Trindade Lima believes that the election was result of the strengthening of Democracy itself throughout the institution. “We came out of this process more united and aware of our role in society, especially at this difficult time we all live in,” she said. “I take this opportunity to express my sentiments to the families of Covid-19 victims and reiterate the commitment of Fiocruz, a State owned institution and heritage of our society, to have Science, Technology and Innovation at the service of life and SUS as its main guidelines."