Emergency in public health by floods: the Ministry of Health actions in occurrences in Brazil, 2004 to 2017

Abstract

The objective of this article is to contextualize the impacts of floods on health and analyze reports from the Emergency Health Operations Center, mobilized by the Ministry of Health (MS), for federal monitoring of these events in Brazil, 2004-2017. For this, a bibliographical and documentary survey was carried out, including MS reports on floods and data analysis of the Integrated Disaster Information System, Civil Defense from 2004 to 2017. It was verified that floods reached all Brazilian regions, with events critical in 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The MS worked in nine occurrences and this experience subsidized the establishment of the preparedness and response strategy, including Disaster Health Committees, documents and regulations to guide SUS's action in hydrological disasters. Floods of great magnitude require rapid response and this does not require prior preparation. The MS advanced in inter-sectorial and interinstitutional articulations, however, providing the municipal SUS with the necessary capacity for timely action is still a challenge to be overcome.