Várzea Grande Health Workers Project Wins State Award

The municipality of Várzea Grande received the top state award for its project “Valorização das Trabalhadoras do Sistema Único de Saúde e o Enfrentamento da Violência no Trabalho.” The initiative, part of the PET‑Saúde Equidade programme of the Ministry of Health, was recognized as Mato Grosso’s best experience and presented in Brasília in April 2024. It was implemented through a partnership between the municipal Health Secretariat and the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT) and involved faculty and students from law, nursing, medicine, nutrition, psychology, collective health and social work. The project diagnosed workplace violence against SUS female staff at the local emergency care unit and hospital, identifying gender, race, ethnicity, class and sexual‑identity dimensions. Actions included educational videos, informational materials, newspaper inserts, waiting‑room talks, meetings with managers and a regional forum with the city of Cuiabá. Municipal Health Secretary Valéria Nogueira said the recognition shows the city is “on the right path” by investing in safer, more humane work environments for health professionals. Participants highlighted the value of academic‑service integration for improving care and continuing education.