In order to improve the health of pregnant women, newborns and children, were fabricated and distributed three thousand kits of perinatal technologies in the following states in Brazil: Mato Grosso do Sul, Piauí, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Espírito Santo, Ceará e Pará.
The perinatal technologies developed by the Latin American Center for Perinatology/Women’s Health and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) are tools that allow for the qualification of care for pregnant women during their pregnancy, labor and childbirth itself, and control of newborns. These are low-cost, high-
impact tools in primary healthcare, including for specialists who provide care levels of higher complexity. They are easy to use, interpret and transport, and facilitate the timely care for pregnant women and newborns.
The kit consists of a Zika neonatal tape, an obstetric tape, a contraceptive medical eligibility disc, a pocket gestogram (photo), and a leaflet with further information.
According to Dr. Socorro Gross, Representative for PAHO/WHO in Brazil, “thanks to those practical tools that are easy for health professionals to use, many pregnant women and newborns in Brazil will receive timely, high quality attention. The information that these tools bring is fundamental for avoiding risks among this population, and thus contributes to improving their health and quality of life”.
This initiative unfolded in the context of the technical cooperation works between CLAP/WR, PAHO/WHO Brazil, and the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME), who provided administrative and logistical support. In total, 3 thousand kits were handled, stored in 23 cardboard boxes, waiting for a posting definition. Once authorized, the kits were sent to their recipients (PAC category), with receipt notice.
Start of the joint action between BIREME and CLAP/WR
On May 28th and 29th 2018, Paulo Guirotane, responsible for Finances and Budgeting at CLAP/WR, was at the BIREME headquarters to discuss administrative and support action lines to be undertaken by BIREME in the technical cooperation initiative coordinated with PAHO/WHO Brazil for the production and distribution of kits with technologies to improve the health of pregnant women, newborns and children.
Silvia de Valentin, administrator, and the Administrative Management and Planning (GA) staff, Carlos Lucas Rodrigues, from purchasing, and Adriano de Sá, from internal controllership, who would support CLAP/WR in the elaboration and also in the distribution of materials in disadvantaged areas, especially in the north and northeast regions of Brazil.
Considering the importance and the impact of the joint effort by the two PAHO/WHO specialized centers, BIREME’s director, Diego Gonzalez Machín, delivered, along with Pablo Guirotane, a presentation of the materials and about the initiative to the staff at the center, so as to demonstrate how actions like this one can positively impact people’s health.
Access the leaflet produced by CLAP in Portuguese: front and back