Free dental care and eye doctors for Brazilian school children!!

Expansion of Universal Health Care in Brazil-Moving in the right direction

 
After forming a great partnership between the Brazilian Ministry of Health and Education, the Brazilian government just announced a new program to offer free dental care and eye doctors for children in public schools, they will start a pilot in 20 states and on a second phase of the project they will expand into all Brazilian states.
The program has adapted some large motor home type trucks into a hybrid of dental office combined with an eye doctor's clinic.

Yes, that is a picture of a naked boob without a blanket to cover it, in a national health campaign in Brazil!!  ;)

These trucks will use the University Hospitals as a base for their programs, 2500 or almost half of Brazilian cities will be a part of the initial phase of the program, if the program is successful, it will be expanded into the other half of Brazilian cities towards the interior of the country.
These trucks will rotate among certain regions covering all public schools of certain districts offering completely free basic dental care and eye doctors and free eye glasses for children enrolled in the public schools covered by the program.
I personally think this program has a great chance at success because it is practical and objective, keeping it simple and effective.
I really wish we had a similar initiative in the United States, God knows we desperately need it around here.




Countries with Universal Health Care in Blue

In the US, only Massachusetts has a form of Universal Health Care, it is very simple, if you have a job or if you have money, you are mandated by law to purchase Health Care Insurance, if you are poor, unemployed or don't have any money, the state of Massachusetts buys private Health Care Insurance for you.
It was a Republican initiative created under Mitt Romney's administration to assure his corporate friends increased their profits by forcing everyone to purchase private health insurance and use tax money to purchase private health insurance for those who couldn't afford to buy it.
Funny and disgusting to see the Republicans calling Obama's health care initiative "Obama Care" in a pejorative way, considering it was inspired in the Republican's sucessful endeavor in Massachusetts.
It is enforced by the state's branch of the IRS, when you file for your state taxes in Massachusetts you have to supply your private health insurance account number or you won't be able to complete and file your state taxes.
Trust me, everyone has health insurance in Massachusetts nowadays.



US medicaid overhaul map

I have one thing to say, regardless if you are a Democrat or a Republican, independent, conservative or liberal, we have to agree that Brazil is going in the right direction by investing in the health of our children.
What better way to reach all and to put an extra incentive for poor families already enrolled in the "Bolsa Familia" than to attach this program to children enrolled in schools?
Awesome!!
Below is the original article in Portuguese:

Alunos de escolas públicas terão atendimento dentário a partir de abril

Carolina Pimentel

Da Agência Brasil, em Brasília

Comente

A partir de abril, consultórios itinerantes dentários e oftalmológicos vão atender alunos de escolas públicas em 20 estados.
A iniciativa é uma parceria dos ministérios da Educação e da Saúde. Os consultórios são montados em caminhões, que atenderão em frente às escolas que fazem parte do Programa Saúde na Escola. De acordo com o Ministério da Saúde, são 37 veículos, com até dois consultórios oftalmológicos, e 34 caminhões, onde será feito o atendimento.
As crianças passarão por exames de retina, de fundo do olho e receberão óculos quando detectados
problemas. Os consultórios dentários são equipados para limpeza, extração e aplicação de flúor.
Na primeira fase, o atendimento oftalmológico será feito na cidades com hospitais universitários, onde há estudantes de medicina e residentes. Depois, os consultórios serão levados ao interior do país.
De 2011 até o início deste ano, 2.500 municípios aderiram ao Programa Saúde na Escola, segundo o ministério.