Thousands of Rio Grande do Sul health facilities hit by floods, report

Researchers at federal research institute Fiocruz estimate that the floods in Rio Grande do Sul affected more than 3,000 health facilities such as hospitals, drugstores, and clinics. The report draws attention to the situation of people in the state suffering from chronic diseases.

“Clinics and specialized health centers, a total of 548 facilities, may experience operational difficulties, essential for the treatment of chronic conditions and medical emergencies that are not directly related to the disaster,” the report says.

The crisis, researchers added, highlights the need for a robust public health strategy to address both the immediate demands during a disaster and to strengthen the resilience of health infrastructures for future similar events. “Investment in physical improvements, staff training for rapid responses, and efficient communication systems will be vital to ensuring public health integrity,” they wrote.

The floods also disrupted water and power supplies, and forced schools to close. Some of the schools are being used as shelters. Water contamination, the report adds, could contribute to “post-disaster conditions” such as diseases. Health officials recently confirmed two deaths by leptospirosis in the state after the floods, the first two to be recorded in the state this year.

Rio Grande do Sul Lieutenant Governor Gabriel Souza said last week the state is considering relocating entire cities after the floods.

Separately, Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin this week ordered Governor Eduardo Leite to submit information on the changes to an environmental law enacted in April. 

The Green Party argued that the new legislation could authorize deforestation in protected areas, and thus contribute to new climate disasters. Justice Fachin’s decision is a standard practice in lawsuits about striking down legislation.

According to state authorities, more than 2.3 million people in 467 cities had been affected by the ongoing Rio Grande do Sul crisis as of Wednesday afternoon. 162 people have died, and 75 others are missing. Over 581,000 residents are displaced, and 68,000 are in shelters.

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