A major health care crisis is looming over Rio de Janeiro causing many hospitals and clinics to close and leaving health care workers without pay. All this due to a major budget shortfall. It is hoped that Governor Luiz Fernando Pazos’ decree of $25.3 million in federal assistance will rapidly flow into the state to rescue the healthcare system.
Emergency medical funding is also needed to combat the zika virus, according to Yahoo! News. This mosquito borne virus was first known to Africa in the 1940’s. Its emergence was rare to the Americas until last year. Now its presence has Brazilian health authorities concerned as zika has been linked to a rise in babies born with microcephaly.
Recently, Rio health officials announced that pregnant women showing signs of the zika virus symptoms has doubled from 341 to 698 and microcephaly cases rose 45% to 66% in a week’s time. Many of those presenting the virus were turned away, Christmas Eve, from health facilities due to closures or cuts in medical services.
Rio faces a double whammy, as the crisis looms over the state just eight month before it is set to host the 20`6 Olympics. Governor Pazao told news media, “…we are counting on on the federal government, President Dilma Rousseff and everyone else to pull the state out of this situation as quickly as possible.”
To date, Rio de Janeiro, which is number two in the Brazilian economy, owes health care workers and suppliers $355. An immediate release of medical funds is needed to pay them and to reopen closed medical facilities.