UFSC Leads National Initiative to Enhance Health Promotion Methodologies in Brazil
UFSC launches a project to improve state health methodologies in Brazil's SUS system.
- • UFSC leads a national health promotion research project.
- • Collaboration involves five states and local health stakeholders.
- • Significant increases in health consultations reported in Mogi das Cruzes.
- • Project aims to deliver a reproducible methodology by March 2026.
Key details
A significant national initiative launched by the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) is set to revolutionize health promotion methodologies within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS). This project, titled 'Construção e Metodologia para a Formulação de Políticas Públicas Estaduais de Promoção da Saúde e Apoio à Implementação,' aims to develop state-specific strategies for health promotion, emphasizing local realities and the collaboration between government, academia, and civil society.
Funded by the Ministry of Health and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the research involves collaboration across five Brazilian states. The project, overseen by Professor Ivonete Teresinha Schulter Buss Heidemann, includes partnerships with several universities, each facilitating in-person workshops with health secretaries, municipal managers, and representatives of civil society. These workshops are crucial for discussing key concepts and sharing local experiences in health promotion strategies.
The first workshop took place in Manaus on September 18-19, focusing on challenges specific to riverine populations and the importance of interculturality. Observations shared by participants highlighted significant regional issues, such as cultural diversity in Maranhão and urban inequalities in São Paulo. The overarching goal is to provide the Ministry of Health with a comprehensive, replicable methodology and resources by March 2026, which will include a guiding manual and a virtual learning course.
In a related development, Mogi das Cruzes recently released its second quadrimester health report, revealing a 24.5% increase in scheduled medical consultations compared to the previous year. Noteworthy improvements in gynecology and psychology consultations were reported at 56.5% and 62.4%, respectively. The district’s proactive measures to enhance health service quality, such as the distribution of smoking cessation medications and improved emergency response times, underline its commitment to public health. This aligns well with the objectives of the UFSC initiative, as both highlight the importance of integrating local health service strategies to improve overall health promotion in Brazil.