Part of the facilities of the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center, of the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), was officially transferred this Wednesday (08) to the Municipal Health Department of Macaíba (RN) – for an indefinite period – to expand the capacity to care for suspected cases of infection by the new coronavirus in the municipality.

The structure was adapted to offer 21 infirmary beds and other spaces that are now managed by the city hall.

The term authorizing the use of property, facilities and equipment was signed by the general director of the ISD, Reginaldo Freitas Júnior, and the Secretary of Health of Macaíba, Gisleyne Karla Medeiros da Silva.

The services will be in charge of doctors, nurses and nursing technicians from the UPA Aluízio Alves, which works alongside Anita and is the main channel for urgent and emergency care in the municipality.

Suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19 considered less serious, that is, those that dispense with the need for devices for the patient to be able to breathe – will be received in the structure. The very urgent and very serious cases will be concentrated on the premises of the UPA.

“We, at the Institute, have been reinforcing UPA care since March 23, for less serious cases involving pregnant women and children, with or without symptoms of Covid-19. Now, the UPA teams will take over this service, with our support for specific cases, when necessary”, says Freitas Júnior.

With the assignment of part of the structure to the Municipality, high-risk prenatal and high-risk pediatric patients – from Anita – will continue to be treated in a separate environment, with a team on a shift basis. Patients at rehabilitation clinics, in turn, continue to be attended in a non-face-to-face manner.

“We continue to assist these patients, but in the oriented way, with them at home and we provide support by phone, WhatsApp, and through materials such as booklets, which we are producing”, says Anita's manager, Lílian Lisboa.

The service lines are disclosed to patients to clarify doubts, renew medication, prescribe medication and provide psychological support.

"The return of face-to-face consultations does not yet have a scheduled date, but will be based on guidelines from the Ministry of Health and internal ones, considering the evolution of the scenario", says Lílian. ISD is a Social Organization funded by the Ministry of Education.