Military personnel from the Brazilian Navy begin, today (12), the second stage of the “Navio” Project (Expanded Navigation for Intensive and Optimized Surveillance), an initiative focused on studying and monitoring the health of riverside populations in the Pantanal and climate change and its impacts on public health. The action is carried out in conjunction with the Health Departments of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and researchers from national and international institutions.
The River Logistics Support Ship (NApLogFlu) “Potengí”, the River Transport Ship (NTrFlu) “Paraguassu” and the Hospital Assistance Ship (NAsH) “Tenente Maximiamo” will travel around 10 riverside communities on the Northern Section of the Paraguay River, from Ladário (MS) to Cáceres (MT).
Multidisciplinary teams will collect, along the route, epidemiological and climatic data that will later allow the identification of priority locations for health surveillance. The aim is to obtain a more accurate prediction of outbreaks and implement more effective preventive and control measures.
In addition to collecting data and samples of migratory birds, wastewater and vectors in the Pantanal, health teams on board the ships will offer medical, dental and laboratory care to residents of riverside communities.
The Commander of the 6th Naval District, Vice Admiral Iunis Távora Said, states that the Naval Force establishes and maintains partnerships and agreements with bodies and institutions, in order to improve the provision of public services to society.
“No matter the region, our work will be, today and always, to protect national wealth and take care of our people. Here on the Western Border, in terms of taking care of our people, the Navy is dedicated, in particular, to the riverside population, as they are those who depend, for their subsistence, on our rivers. This is one of the main missions of the Brazilian Navy”, explains the Vice Admiral.