Project transforms tires into handicrafts and prevents dengue fever in Rio | Rio de Janeiro

Health workers from the city of Rio, who for some reason had to be removed from working on the streets, are taking part in a tire reuse project and transforming what would otherwise be trash into art and decoration.

In the initiative, tires, which could also become breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, are given new meaning in a studio set up two years ago at the Clínica da Família Sônia Maria Ferreira Machado, in Santíssimo, West Zone of Rio.

Tires are collected from the streets, sanitized and then processed. Once decorated, the items are sent to the gardens of family clinics and municipal health centers.

Tires are collected when, during vector control actions or in response to requests made by Central 1746, agents identify inappropriate disposal of these materials.

Douglas Vieira worked to combat endemic diseases until he suffered a traffic accident in 2016 and had to be removed from field work. He says he is very grateful for the project, which keeps him active and works like occupational therapy, helping with his mental health.

“This service is of great importance to combat mosquito breeding sites, because the population disposes of tires incorrectly, for example, on the edge of ditches or in vacant lots. We collect these tires and give them new meaning, preventing them from accumulating water and causing mosquito outbreaks to emerge,” says Douglas, who has participated in the project since its inception.

In addition to being good for both nature and volunteers, the project impacts the appearance of the units.

“It also contributes to building an aesthetically welcoming environment in the network’s health units. The idea is that, in the future, other areas of the city will carry out similar work”, explains environmental surveillance coordinator, Rafael Pinheiro.

According to the Municipal Health Department, awareness actions on preventing diseases such as dengue and Zika and monitoring possible mosquito outbreaks are carried out constantly.

This year, until April 13th, 3,307,269 properties were visited to control Aedes aegypti; and 521,335 containers that could serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes were treated or eliminated, according to the city hall.

Complaints about the irregular dumping of garbage and unusable materials, including tires, on vacant land and public areas are received through the Rio City Hall Call Center, by calling 1746. Comlurb also offers the Free Removal Service of Debris from small household works and other useless materials such as furniture, antlers, appliances, tires, etc., via WhatsApp 3460-1746.