Unicamp and society unite against Covid-19

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In the fight against the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, public institutions have provided an essential service, providing care to patients and producing scientific research related to combating Covid-19. At Unicamp, actions to contain the pandemic include, in addition to these aspects, the effort to ensure that the university community can continue to be involved in academic activities. Service, research and teaching also involve the support of society, which in different ways has been joining forces to get through this moment.

Society's support for Unicamp's activities is assessed by University professionals as fundamental. The executive director of the Health Area, professor Manoel Bertolo; the dean of Research at Unicamp, professor Munir Salomão Skaf, and the coordinator of the Human Rights Observatory, professor Josiane Cesaroli, take stock of the mobilization in the fight against Covid-19 and highlight how the population's solidarity can help to contain the crisis.

Health

Unicamp's Hospital de Clínicas (HC), right at the beginning of cases of coronavirus contagion in Brazil, was included as one of the reference centers for serious cases of Covid-19 by the state of São Paulo. Since then, there has been a reformulation of the Hospital's activities to support a greater number of patient care.

The executive director of the Health Area at Unicamp, professor Manoel Bertolo, points out that the entire University community is actively acting in this difficult time, which he classifies as an unusual situation for everyone. The main challenges, for Bertolo, refer to the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is in dispute around the world. “We are experiencing tremendous difficulty in purchasing personal protective equipment, PPE. The equipment disappeared from the market, in addition to costing much more”, he points out.

He also highlights the need for financing for other equipment used to treat patients, such as monitors and respirators, and for inputs used in diagnoses. Despite the adversities, Bertolo states that, together with the Health Department of the state of São Paulo, 30 more Intensive Treatment Unit (ICU) beds are being set up at the HC, which will be released in the coming days. The implementation of each ICU bed costs, on average, R$180. The Hospital had already released ICU beds for Covid-19 care, a measure that was possible due to the cancellation of elective procedures. 

According to Bertolo, in addition to new ICU beds, the Hospital de Clínicas is prepared to release up to 200 exclusive beds for patients with Covid-19. To meet this demand, per day it will be necessary: ​​6.000 three-layer surgical masks, which results in a cost of R$18; 600 N95 masks, which cost R$3,7; 5.000 TNT aprons, which cost R$8,5; 1.000 bi-laminated aprons, costing R$11; and 1.000 caps, which cost R$200,00.

Society, for the director of Deas, can help with the health team's actions by following the recommended guidelines for seeking care and, if possible, making donations. “We ask that society as a whole collaborates by avoiding going to the hospital at inappropriate times. We are receiving patients, but they must go to the basic units first. This is the request we make so that we do not have an overload in service. The entire community needs to work by following the rules and, if possible, making donations. We await all participation from society. It’s everyone’s fight.” 

In relation to donations, Unicamp's health area has been receiving support from several companies and institutions, in the form of money, supplies and equipment. "This mobilization of society is extremely important to provide conditions for professionals who are on the front line of the fight against Covid-19", highlights Bertolo. According to him, however, the health sector continues to need financial assistance and inputs, since the most critical phase of the pandemic is yet to come, according to estimates by the Ministry of Health. The account for transfer or deposit is: Banco do Brasil, 001, Agency 4203-X, Current Account 44.427-8, CNPJ 46.068.425/0001-33. Discover the donations made to Unicamp.

Research

Important steps in relation to research dedicated to containing the pandemic have already been taken at Unicamp. It stands out, for example, the rapid development of a tests of Covid-19 detection, led by researchers from the Institute of Biology (IB), which enabled the accreditation from the FCM Pathology Laboratory to diagnose the disease. 

Another front of research at FCM is the drug testing for the treatment of the disease caused by Sars-Cov-2, a study led by the World Health Organization (WHO). Several other actions, coordinated by a task force that brings together more than 400 professionals from multiple areas of knowledge, are also underway, such as the development of technologies for manufacturing respirators and PPE prototypes. At the Center for Comprehensive Care for Women's Health (CAISM), also, a study multidisciplinary monitoring of pregnant women in the face of the pandemic also began to be carried out.

audio description: color photograph of the Dean of Research, Munir Skaf
"Without science there is no way out", assesses Munir Skaf, pro-rector of Research at Unicamp

"Scientific research is fundamental, whether to provide a safe and necessary basis for the implementation of public policies to contain the pandemic, whether to find a cure or develop vaccines and other preventive measures, or to develop new diagnostic methods, new hospital equipment and personal protective equipment, new ways of cleaning and others”, points out Unicamp’s dean of Research, Munir Skaff.

For the dean, research in social areas is also essential to predict scenarios for the spread of the disease and its social and economic impacts. “Without science there is no way out”, he assesses. 

Donations to Unicamp's research front are necessary for the professor, as they only happen through the existence of resources. “Scientific research is expensive and, therefore, any and all help makes a big difference in critical times like these, highlighting that resources will be quickly available to laboratories because the pandemic does not wait.”

To contribute financially or through donations of research materials, PRP requests contact via email (prp@unicamp.br) or through official channel of Unicamp created to channel donations. 

Distance activities

On March 30, due to the pandemic, Unicamp suspended in-person academic activities. The measure, which aimed to prevent the spread of the disease caused by the new coronavirus, posed a challenge for the entire university community, which quickly began to articulate the adaptation to continue non-face-to-face activities. 

“Faced with the suspension of regular activities, we began to imagine alternatives so that the community could continue its research, debate forums and inclusion activities. Among the solutions we imagined was the issue of donating and loaning equipment”, observes Josiane Cesaroli, coordinator of the University's Human Rights Observatory, which organizes the activities of the Volunteer Center.

As problems appeared, he points out, solutions were also created. With the engagement of several employees, students and society in general, donation and loan of equipment, such as computers, cell phones, tablets, chips, internet packages, which are essential so that classes, studies and research activities can continue to take place remotely. One donation of R$50 thousand, carried out by businessman Carlos Wizard, was also allocated to the purchase of materials. 

According to Josiane, the main effect of this measure is inclusion, which is important not only to guarantee the continuity of academic activities, but also to keep the community in contact during this period of distress. “I think about including different ways of thinking and feeling about challenges and problems. Certainly ensuring connection with those who currently have few chances to share their ideas, impressions, feelings and needs will bring us something new, a perspective that perhaps we could not imagine without the presence of the entire academic community, in all its diversity. Inclusion, in this sense, strengthens everyone.”

How can you help the Volunteer Center? To purchase equipment necessary for remote activities and other actions to help students, the center receives donations from individuals and companies, both of the equipment itself and of financial resources to purchase the material. In addition, the group also continues to welcome volunteers, who can dedicate time and skills in different areas. Registration is carried out through this link

In the case of cash donations, the deposit account is: Banco do Brasil, 001, Branch 4203-X, Current Account 44.426-X, CNPJ 46.068.425/0001-33 UEC/Movement account. Identify on deposit: GR/volunteriadoUNICAMP. 

Questions can be addressed via email rightshumanos@unicamp.br. For students who need help, contact can be made through the website: http://www.direitoshumanos.unicamp.br/form/preciso-de-ajuda.

“Unicamp and society can mutually benefit from the projects that we are able to imagine and develop not only now, in facing the immediate conditions of the pandemic, but in the post-Covid19 future. This is already on our horizon”, observes Josiane.

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Unicamp and society against Covid-19

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