In Outubro Rosa, the Ministry of Health has launched a handbook for the resumption of care and examinations

As the demand for care, preventive testing and vaccines decreases during the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Health (SES) has published a digital handbook to guide municipalities in their care resumption planning activities. The measures are focused on Pink October and the multiple vaccination campaign that started last Friday (1/10), which made available more than 20 types of vaccines to protect the population from the risks of diseases that may come into circulation due to the lack of vaccine coverage. .

In the Month of Women’s Health Promotion, procedures such as mammograms and Pap smears should be intensified. In 2020, there was a decrease of about 42,000 mammograms, compared to 2019, which is a 32% decrease. Cervical cancer screening decreased in 2020, a decrease of 211,508 screenings compared to the previous year, which means a decrease of 37.63%.

“It is very important that municipal administrators implement strategies to expand women’s access to health services. We confirm that the resumption of universal health care for women will begin in October, and should continue throughout the year,” says Coordinator of the Life Cycle Policy Division, which includes Women’s Health Policy, Gislin Silva “This year, in addition to focusing on actions to prevent breast cancer, the global resumption of actions to advance women’s health is important.”

guiding rules

The pamphlet published by SES indicates that screening by Pap smear should be performed on non-pregnant women and on pregnant women, aged 25 to 64 years, every three years, after two consecutive regular exams performed in a one-year period.

A mammogram, in turn, should be performed by women between the ages of 50 and 69, and a mammogram every two years. Mammography to evaluate any suspicious change in the breast is called a diagnostic mammogram and can be done at any age when medically indicated.

The document notes that in addition to preventing breast cancer, actions should aim to promote women’s health globally, ensure access to sexual and reproductive planning, provide available contraceptives and conduct rapid testing.

State guidelines are that services should identify and offer mammography and cervical cytology for women and transgender and non-binary women and men designated at birth, in the recommended age range. Demand should be organized according to local prevalence, pent-up demand, priority clinical indications, and the existing network of care.

Primary care homes

Community health agents working in primary care should actively seek out women in age groups for screening or who are behind in routine tests. Municipal managers will be responsible for implementing actions to promote women’s health, such as health education, encouraging self-care to prevent disease, creating spaces for reflection on gender, dealing with violence, women’s role in society, sexual and reproductive health, and health. Eating habits and physical activities, among others.

Another planned initiative is to expand the use of the Telehealth Service / RS-UFRGS through the phone number 0800-644-6543, to discuss the case and qualify the referral in the specialist counseling organization system.

_{Text: Ascom SES
Edition: Secom}