Villagers win appeal for better health services
Two years ago, the local health clinic that served the Eucalípto community in the town of Sapé, Brazil, was without a doctor and open sewers ran down the dirt road outside.
Working with Concern Universal, the community organised meetings with staff from the clinic to put together a plan for improving services. In July 2009, they met with the town’s Vice Mayor, health minister and the Coordinator of the town’s Health Programme to put forward their requests: 1) for the clinic to be moved to a more suitable building; 2) for the immediate appointment of a doctor; and 3) for the clinic to be well stocked with medical supplies. Because the local authorities did not see the community’s request as a confrontation, but rather as a proposal to work together, they were keen to help. Within a short space of time a doctor was hired and supplies of medicines were plentiful.
A year later the community celebrated their new improved clinic and more than 4,000 people have access to better health care. Moreover, by involving the staff from the clinic in the process, it has brought them closer with the community and helped to improve the quality of services offered.
Maria Aparecida Marques de Souza, (pictured), a community resident from Eucalipto, said,
“Since the health clinic moved to the new building, the quality of services has improved a lot. Before we had no space to wait and the centre always lacked medicine. Today the service is much better because the building is large and has several rooms. When I go to the clinic with my children I am always well attended and there are medicines available.”
