The hospitals opened in Belo Horizonte exclusively to care for the population with dengue symptoms have already received 11,735 patients in three weeks. Of these, 1,159 required hospitalization in the units. The equipment is temporary and must continue to operate until the end of the arbovirus epidemic.
The first temporary hospital opened its doors on February 24, in the Venda Nova region. The unit is open 24 hours a day and is located at Rua Padre Pedro Pinto, 173. There are 32 beds available and, as of Saturday (16/3), 7,927 people were treated and 548 patients were hospitalized.
The field hospital, opened on March 1st in the North region of the city, is next to UPA Norte, at Avenida Risoleta Neves, 2.580, Aarão Reis. There are 40 hospital beds for patients with arbovirus symptoms. In 16 days, 2,723 people were received and 438 hospitalized.
Empty?
While the most recent, the temporary hospital in the Western Region, was opened on the 7th. Some patients say that the place is busy, however, empty compared to other health units.
This Sunday morning (17/3), the State of Minas visited the health facility, located at Rua Santa Cruz, 137, Alto Barroca, and found people waiting for care. One of the patients, Janaina Silva de Abreu, 39 years old, says that after being admitted to the hospital at 6am, only 40 minutes passed before she was already taking medication.
Janaina Silva de Abreu, 39 years old
Leandro Couri/ EM/ DA Press
“I have pain in my eyes, legs, abdomen and lower back. I’ve been like this for two days and decided to consult, mainly due to abdominal pain. I found the service to be quick. Maybe it was because of the time, which was much busier”, says the receptionist.
Mechanic André Felipe, 34 years old, was waiting in line to be seen. He says he received a message stating that the hospital was emptier and with fast service. “Going to very crowded places can be discouraging. I just arrived and filled out the form, I’m waiting and I believe the service will be quick,” he says. While talking to the reporter, he was called into the office.
Sueli Batista, on the other hand, accompanied her husband, who has a fever, nausea and vomiting. “He has been feeling unwell since Friday, so we decided to come. We arrived now and he is in line waiting to be served. It is empty, I believe this hospital is not being publicized much,” she says.
Despite this, in 10 days, 1,085 consultations and 173 hospitalizations were carried out. An average of 108 people assisted per day. The hospital’s capacity, however, is 200 patients daily.
Explosion of cases
Since the last update of the arbovirus balance from the State Department of Health (SES-MG), on Friday (15/3), BH had accumulated 76,774 probable cases of dengue, 14,958 confirmed cases and 20 deaths. Another 30 deaths remain under investigation.
According to the same document, the capital of Minas Gerais has 1,919 probable cases of chikungunya and 122 of zika, of which 1,174 were confirmed for the first disease, with two deaths, and 14 for the second, with no deaths.
The situation remains on alert and in need of reinforcements. Starting this Monday (18/3), the City of BH will continue to extend the opening hours of eight health centers during the week. The units will serve patients from 7am to 10pm. See what they are:
- Our Lady of Aparecida (Center-South)
- Marco Antônio de Menezes (East)
- Efigênia Murta de Figueiredo and Conjunto Paulo IV (Northeast)
- João Pinheiro (Northwest)
- Confiscation (Pampulha)
- Rio Branco and Serra Verde (Venda Nova)
Also starting tomorrow, dengue vaccines will once again be made available in 152 health centers, during business hours, after three Saturdays with an exceptional vaccination campaign. To date, more than 37 thousand people in the eligible group aged 10 to 14 have received the vaccine, a quantity that corresponds to around 74% of the total of 49.5 thousand doses received by the municipality.
