Brazil |
Amazonas State STD/HIV/AIDS Programme
Section 4: Healthcare and the Millennium Development Goals
Are you aware of any national / regional programmes to vaccinate children against common diseases?
In August, the Secretary of Health in Itacoatiara held a citywide vaccination campaign, targeting all children under five. Vaccinations are offered free of charge at all health posts and community health agents are required to consult every household regarding immunizations.
Are you aware of any national programmes / regional activity to implement to improve the health of pregnant women and mothers with young children?
Itacoatiara offers basic healthcare services in each of its nine healthcare centres and the city hospital, assessable to anyone living in the city or willing to travel from the interior region.
Pre-natal examinations are recommended for all pregnant women. In rural areas, where no healthcare centre exists, women must travel to Itacoatiara for checkups.
In concordance with Brazil’s national healthcare system, a team of doctors, nurses and community health agents visit each house in Itacoatiara once a month. However, in isolated regions of the municipality, these services are non-existent.
Is there a difference in healthcare offered to young mothers based on location e.g. rural and urban?
In terms of rural versus urban healthcare, disparities are great.
With regards to HIV/AIDS, are you aware of any national / regional anti-retroviral and / or preventative programmes?
Brazil’s National HIV/AIDS Programme is noted as one of the most successful. Since 1996, Brazil has offered free anti-retroviral treatment to all infected individuals. This has proven overly successful, with a 50% reduction in the mortality rate. Although the Ministry of Health spends millions of dollars on anti-retrovirals, they in fact save money overall by reducing the need to treat opportunistic infections.
Brazil’s Ministry of Health has recently approved prevention and treatment options for PLWHAs that suffer from lipdistrofia. The Ministry of Health also distributes free condoms to the population in general.
How does this project link in with the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6?
Various programmes mandated by the Ministry of Health target the goals of the MDGs. Nationally, Brazil is working to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV and syphilis to less than 1%. Projects such as Projeto Nascer and incentives offered to municipalities that provide testing in pre-natal examinations aim to reduce child mortality and combat HIV/AIDS.
In Itacoatiara, malaria reduction campaigns are held annually. The Secretary of Health works directly with community leaders in endemic areas to reduce infection and improve prevention methods.
Have any national MDG campaigns been noticeable in Itacoatiara Amazonas?
At the local level, MDGs are not mentioned. However, in terms of programme planning, Brazil’s National STD/HIV/AIDS Programme outlines their goals and objectives based on the MDGs. Brazil’s healthcare system functions from the top down. All programmes mandated from the National Programme are implemented at state and local levels. By highlighting the MDGs at the national level, the Ministry of Health aims to alleviate poverty and improve healthcare access and services for those at the local level.
Glossary
VCT – Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre
PLWHA – Person Living with HIV/AIDS
About the project
About the People
Healthcare and Poverty in Brazil
Healthcare and the Millennium Development Goals
