Highlights
• The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development launched, on 15 March, a strategy to accelerate the identification and diagnosis of children with suspected microcephaly. It also aims to guarantee welfare benefitsto eligible families. The Federal Government will support States with an amount of R$ 2,200 – USD 555 - for each suspected case notified. This financial resource must be invested on active search of children, transportation, lodging and diagnostic imaging for children with microcephaly.
• Municipalities started reporting the strategic actions implemented to fight Aedes aegypti in the Semi-arid region. In the State of Piauí, 241 participants – half of them, adolescents – of 80 municipalities attended the last capacity- building meeting of UNICEF Seal of Approval. These trainings are taking place in the Semi-arid region until 31 March and is part of UNICEF mobilization strategies to reduce the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti by eliminating its breeding grounds.
Situation Overview
Brazilian Ministry of Health’s numbers shows there has been a sharp increase in the number of cases of microcephaly, related to the ZIKV among newborns in Brazil starting in October 2015 mainly in the northeast region. The Federal Government of Brazil has identified this issue as a priority, and President Dilma Rousseff launched a national plan of action to combat this virus in December 2015. Various ministries, governmental organizations including the police, army, firefighters and others, have been mobilized under the leadership of the Ministry of Health to support various activities related to prevention, communication, monitoring, capacity building, among others. UNICEF Brazil (BCO), in an effort to provide support and in response to a request for assistance, has developed a proposal to support governmental efforts to address the epidemic. The action plan is based mainly on vector control using the existing network with the Brazilian municipalities.
Brazilian government response
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development signed on 15 March a ministerial ordinance establishing the Rapid Action Strategy for Strengthening Attention to Health and Social Protection of Children with Microcephaly. The ordinance support States to deploy active search strategies to identify cases of microcephaly confirmed or under investigation so far. The children found must be referred to rehabilitation services by May 31. The ordinance also aims to provide social protection and education to children and their families through the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) – federal cash transfer program that benefits poor people with disability. The Federal Government will also transfer to States R$2,200 – USD 555 - for each suspected case notified. This amount must be use for active search of children, transportation, lodging and diagnostic imaging. The total investment expected is R$ 10.9 million (USD 2.75 million).