G10 Favelas launches disease program – 08/24/2023 – Health

The G10 Favelas, in partnership with the pharmaceutical company Novartis and the Sou + Favela Group, launched this Thursday (24th) in São Paulo a project to bring information about various diseases to residents of peripheral areas.

Called +Vida, the program includes sickle cell anemia, breast cancer, Chagas disease and heart disease, in addition to environmental actions that can impact the health of families.

The first module will address sickle cell anemia, the most prevalent genetic disease in Brazil, which afflicts between 50,000 and 60,000 people. The disease is characterized by the alteration of red blood cells (erythrocytes), which hinders circulation and the arrival of oxygen to tissues and triggers a series of symptoms, such as chronic pain and infections.

The objective of this first phase, says G10 Favelas, is to promote knowledge about the disease in the community and, above all, to combat misinformation.

One of the actions that will be developed during the six months of the partnership will be the “+Vida Ambassadors”. This stage will bring together 50 street presidents (a kind of community agents), who will become representatives of the program.

All of them will receive a training course, in which they will learn how to disseminate information about the disease to each family.

Classes will be taught by nurse Berenice Kikuchi, doctor in health and development.

In addition, there will be six podcast episodes on +Favela TV with the presence of Gilson Rodrigues, national president of G10 Favelas, and representatives of Novartis.

A documentary on the subject will also be produced. In addition, the partnership provides for an institutional film showing the program’s actions. These productions will be carried out by Sou + Filmes de Favela.

Renato Carvalho, president of Novartis Brasil, considers that the prevention and early diagnosis of diseases is essential for the country to have a sustainable health system.

“Expanding the information available to the population is a very important step in this direction. We are very happy to materialize this partnership with the G10 Favelas”, stated Carvalho.