Sespa promotes special work on indigenous health in Usina da Paz do Guamá

On Saturday morning (22) Oceana da Paz de Guama received the “Health Action of the Indigenous Peoples”, referring to Indigenous Day, celebrated last Wednesday (19). The program is implemented by the state Department of Public Health (Sespa), through the State Coordination of Health for Indigenous and Traditional Populations (Cesipt).

Many health services were provided, such as influenza and Covid-19 vaccinations, medical consultations, rapid tests, dental care, preventive examination for cervical cancer, lectures on health, referral to other examinations and consultations, and distribution of educational materials, including the launch of a booklet Indigenous, among other help by the Sespa team.

According to Tatiani Peralta, coordinator of Cesipt, the target audience of the event was indigenous people of all races and ages living in the state capital. She noted that a special invitation has been extended to more than 570 Indigenous students at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). The students who participated in the event took their families to be helped by the Sespa team.

The coordinator also noted that indigenous health professionals have been called in to bring the work closer to the regular staff. For example, examinations for cervical cancer were only performed by indigenous professionals, with the intention of providing greater comfort to the women present.

Butera Saquina, a technologist at CECEPT, highlighted another important intent of the work: “We have many different indigenous peoples living near Usina da Paz do Guamá. It is our intention, through this action, to promote greater proximity of indigenous people to this important space. We hope that they will start attending more and have access to the services provided by the state government in Usinas da Paz. I am very happy, even as an indigenous person, to see CESPA open these paths,” he declared.

Serenia de Jesus, who was present with her 10-year-old son Philip, was among the people who helped out with the Sabbath work. I went for a cervical cancer screening and he went for a routine medical appointment. “We were very well looked after by the staff. We didn’t know the Usina da Paz space, we really liked the procedure that was carried out this morning,” he said.

A total of 1,291 services were provided, expanded to include indigenous peoples from the following ethnic groups: Karipuna, Bari, Banua, Galibi Marorno, Warao, Biratapuya, Balikor, Tucano, Arabium, Guagajara, Takuna, Hiscariano, Waiwai, Kirikati, Amanay and Tempe .

text: Edilson Teixeira / Ascom CESPA