Municipalities in Brazil expand rural healthcare access

Municipal health secretariats in Barreiras and Brasiléia, Brazil, have implemented mobile health programs to expand primary care access in rural and underserved urban areas.

In Barreiras, the ‘Agenda Especial de Saúde’ provided services to over 100 people in the Rio de Pedras community and the Cidade Nova neighborhood. The initiative included medical consultations, dental care, nursing, vaccinations, rapid testing, and reproductive health services such as the insertion of long-term contraceptive implants. Transportation was provided for residents of Residencial Solar Barreiras to facilitate attendance.

In Brasiléia, the ‘Itinerante Saúde em Ação’ program reached the KM 84 community, located approximately 144 kilometers from the city center. The mission resulted in over 1,000 procedures, including 143 medical consultations, 46 dental appointments, 192 rapid tests, and 75 vaccine doses. The program also offered medication dispensing, blood pressure monitoring, electrocardiograms, and assistance with the Bolsa Família program.