Since the beginning of mobilizations in the country to combat the coronavirus, Unicamp has been working in various areas of health, science and services provided to internal and external communities in the search for solutions to the crisis caused by the pandemic. To this end, the university has the support of partners in raising material and financial resources and has organized collaboration possibilities in three donation areas: health and research, teaching and solidarity. Recently, two new campaigns were launched, one to purchase basic food baskets for needy families in Campinas and the other to purchase new equipment for the Hospital de Clínicas (HC) and Center for Comprehensive Women's Health Care (Caism).
Health and research: new equipment, financial and material donations
Recently launched by Unicamp, the emergency fundraising campaign to combat Covid-19 will receive donations to purchase new equipment for the university's health services. The goal is to raise R$2 million to purchase a new tomograph for the Hospital de Clínicas (HC) and a mobile ultrasound device with color dopler for the services provided by the Hospital da Mulher (Caism), as well as personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals. In addition to expanding the service capacity of the two units, the acquisitions will make working with patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 safer. Donations will be received through the campaign available at Instituto Incentive, payment can be made by credit card or bank slip. Access the campaign page here.
A reference center for serious cases of Covid-19 in the State of São Paulo, the HC serves a macro-region of 86 municipalities, which comprises around 6,5 million inhabitants. Each year, the hospital carries out, entirely through the SUS, more than 13 thousand hospitalizations, 420 thousand outpatient consultations and around 72 thousand emergency services. To combat the coronavirus, 98 new infirmary beds, 30 new adult ICU beds and 4 new beds in the pediatric ICU were installed, in addition to tents for the exclusive care of patients with Covid-19 symptoms.
One of the tests necessary for diagnosing Covid-19 is a chest computed tomography, which shows doctors the condition of the patients' lungs and can indicate strong signs of the disease. Today, the hospital has two pieces of equipment, but ideally the capacity for exams should be expanded. "We currently have two CT scanners in use, but they are older and may need maintenance, which reduces the capacity for exams to be carried out. Furthermore, with patients suspected of Covid-19, it is important to leave a specific device for these patients, so as not to put others at risk. When the same device is used, it is necessary to clean the equipment and the entire room, which consumes more time and resources", explains Dr. Antonio Gonçalves Filho, superintendent of HC . He also explains that new equipment is faster and uses less radiation, benefiting patients and healthcare professionals.
Caism, which is dedicated to prenatal, obstetric and postpartum care for women and babies, included care for patients who are suspected or have a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 in its services. To make care safer for pregnant women, postpartum women and newborns, the hospital intends to purchase mobile ultrasound equipment. "This equipment allows ultrasound, which is a fundamental exam for monitoring pregnant women, to be carried out directly in the hospital bed, without the need for them to move around, which increases the risk of contamination by the coronavirus. As a result, the care becomes more humanized", details Dr. Luiz Otávio Sarian, superintendent of Caism. According to the doctor, newborns also benefit from not having to move around the unit. "(The equipment) is also used for exams on babies, which can be done directly in the Neonatal ICU, without having to take the babies out. This greatly increases the safety and health of the babies", he comments.
In addition to medical and hospital care for the diagnosis and treatment of cases of the disease, Unicamp works intensively on research that helps combat the pandemic. The actions are coordinated by more than 400 professionals from various areas of knowledge who are part of the Unicamp Task Force against Covid-19. Among the research already carried out and still in progress is the development of a test for diagnosis of Covid-19, carried out by researchers from the Institute of Biology (IB), and the tests carried out by the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) with drugs for the treatment of the disease.
The health and research area receives cash donations to purchase inputs, PPE, diagnostic tests and other resources necessary for the work. Transfers or deposits can be made at: Banco do Brasil, 001, Branch 4203-X, Current Account 44.427-8, CNPJ 46.068.425/0001-33. You can also contribute by donating consumer and permanent goods, equipment and lending loans through the platform Solidarity with Research, which works as an electronic bulletin board to promote the meeting of those who have something to offer and those who need help in carrying out research. The platform has a partnership with the National Education and Research Network (RNP).
Solidarity: support for vulnerable families
Another recently launched campaign is Unicamp Solidária, area of solidarity of actions, which is coordinated by the Executive Directorate of Integrated Planning (Since) from Unicamp and has the support of the Unicamp Development Foundation (fun camp). It is carried out in partnership with the Municipal Secretariat for Social Assistance, Persons with Disabilities and Human Rights (SMASDH) of Campinas and aims to raise funds for the purchase and distribution of basic food baskets to families in vulnerable situations.
Marco Aurélio Lima, executive director of Depi, explains that the initiative to carry out a solidarity action came from the dean of Unicamp, Marcelo Knobel. To do this, they sought to learn about the work already carried out in the city to serve the needy population. According to him, the best form of action identified was to support the structure of the municipal secretariat, which provides food to needy families through the Campinas Food Bank, expanding its service capacity. "We were impressed that the city has approximately 32 thousand registered families, around 100 thousand people, but the secretariat's capacity serves only 6 thousand families. We therefore thought that the best thing to do is to support this existing structure in the city, expanding this capacity" , highlights Marco Aurélio.
With this, the campaign aims to raise funds to purchase basic food baskets that will be donated to the Campinas Food Bank. The amounts will be collected through Funcamp, which will account for the collections and the number of baskets donated to the bank. Donations can be made by bank slip, transfer or credit card on the campaign page on the Funcamp website. The idea is that the items that will make up the baskets are purchased from local businesses, as a way of encouraging small traders. Donations can also be made via the iFood app. In the "Profile" tab, users must select the "Donations" field. The amounts are destined for the NGO Ação da Cidadania, which converts them into basic food baskets delivered to the Campinas Food Bank.
Another achievement by Depi seeking to collaborate with the work of SMASDH is the creation of a map where families registered for assistance can be identified through georeferencing. According to Marco Aurélio, this is a resource already used within the Unicamp campus to assist in the university's strategic planning and can help the secretariat to streamline family care and organize it in a safe way. "It's planning that needs to be done carefully, to be safe. Then you put these families on the maps and see how many can be served in each region without generating crowds", he explains.
At the beginning, the action included a donation of R$1,2 million made by Itaú Social. Other partner companies and institutions also make contributions to the campaign. The Von Braun Laboratory, which works with Internet of Things (IoT) systems, should create an electronic voucher system to facilitate the acquisition of basic food baskets by families served by SMASDH. The COMEMOS Project intends to allocate profits obtained from the sale of food kits to the Unicamp Solidarity Campaign. Check it out on campaign website more details about these different actions.
Teaching: connected students
With the aim of ensuring that undergraduate and postgraduate students continue their academic activities, have access to news and can participate in discussions during the period of suspension of face-to-face activities, the Unicamp Human Rights Observatory coordinates the delivery of computers, laptops and tablets to students registered to receive assistance. Delivery is made according to socioeconomic criteria, prioritizing low-income students who do not have equipment or internet access. Registration to receive this assistance can be done through of this form.
Distribution began on April 8th. These are pieces of equipment that were available at Unicamp units and could be borrowed, in addition to others that were purchased with resources from donations made to the university and also equipment donated by teachers, staff and members of the community. With the return of in-person activities after the quarantine period, they must return to the university. Chips with 10 GB of mobile internet per month are also made available to students, to guarantee internet access.
The teaching area also receives financial donations to purchase computers, tablets and purchase internet plans for needy students. Financial deposits can be made to the account: Banco do Brasil, 001, Branch 4203-X, Current Account 44.426-X, CNPJ 46.068.425/0001-33 (UEC/coronavirus). Identify on the deposit, if possible: GR/volunteriadoUNICAMP. It is also possible to contribute by donating and loaning equipment. Look here guidance on how to proceed.