Brazilian towns earn national health awards at CONASEMS congress

The 39th National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries (CONASEMS) congress in Porto Alegre, the largest health‑public event in Brazil with more than 13,000 participants, recognized a series of municipal projects with national awards.

Serra (Espírito Santo) won first place overall and third nationally for its rural Family Health strategy and a school‑based oral‑health storytelling program. Feijó (Acre) secured first place in the North region for an itinerant medical assistance project in remote Amazon areas. Itacaré (Bahia) was honored for its municipal obstetric reform, while Gurupi (Tocantins) placed fifth in the state ranking for a Libras‑inclusive health service.

Lucas do Rio Verde (Mato Grosso) highlighted its Human Milk Bank, which has served about 400 premature infants with 800 L of milk since 2023. Mâncio Lima (Acre) received the national Brazil Aqui Tem SUS prize for a mobile dental unit that reaches remote riverine communities via a barge, providing comprehensive oral‑health care.

These awards underscore the diversity of innovative health initiatives across Brazil’s municipalities and the continued emphasis on expanding equitable care under the SUS system.