The state government transfers R$5 million to the municipalities of Santa Catarina to combat Aedes aegypti – ACN

Arboviruses have become an important challenge for Santa Catarina. In this sense, the state government, through the state Ministry of Health, announced on Friday 15 this month, during the launch of the Estação Verão project, the transfer of R$ 10 million to municipalities in order to take measures to combat mosquitoes. The first R$5 million has already been made available.

“The transfer has already been made and resources are already in municipal accounts. Its purpose is to recruit staff, local procedures, clean-up efforts and other measures necessary to prevent the spread of the dengue mosquito. Mosquito control measures at this time are necessary to avoid a significant increase in the number of cases during 2024.” The government’s measures are aimed at prevention and not only the care of patients after they have contracted the disease,” emphasizes the Secretary of State for Health, Carmen Zanotto.

The Municipal Health Departments shall use financial assistance to cover the costs of the activities provided for in the State Guidelines for Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Arboviruses in Santa Catarina, according to the criteria approved by the Bilateral Committee of Directors (CIB), through the deliberation of 693 /CIB/2023. Among them is the use of drones for monitoring where they are difficult to reach, allowing the monitoring of closed spaces such as lands and homes. The second installment of the same amount will be paid in February 2024.

In this sense, the Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance (DIVE/SC) is preparing a technical document to guide municipalities with the procedures by which financial resources can be used.

“By transferring R$5 million to the municipalities of South Carolina, SES is strengthening Aedes aegypti control measures so that we can contain dengue epidemics in our state,” adds Fabio Godenzi, Supervisor of Health Surveillance.

The year 2023 represents the worst scenario for the disease so far, with 119,166 confirmed cases and 98 deaths recorded. Transmission occurred in 130 municipalities, 38 of which reached epidemic level. Regarding Aedes aegypti surveillance, 69,194 outbreaks were identified in 237 municipalities, of which 154 municipalities were considered infested by mosquitoes, which contributed to the continued spread and expansion of the disease in the state.