United by water

reducing inequalities and strengthening vulnerable community in Itabuna

Abstract

Gogó da Ema is a neighborhood in the municipality of Itabuna located in an area at high risk of flooding due to floods from the Cachoeira River. In 2021, with heavy summer rains, dozens of families were left homeless as the river's water levels rose. The precarious infrastructure and the direct emission of sewage into the Icó River corroborate the occurrence of problems in the sanitary, environmental and health spheres, confirming the high rates of hospitalizations and infant mortality due to pathologies related to inadequate sanitation in Itabuna. The project comes with a modern and bold proposal through the One Health concept, based on the complex interactions between man, animal and environment, considering that environmental disasters, such as floods, cause important impacts on human and animal health, increasing the incidence of infectious diseases and parasitic diseases, as well as psychosocial imbalances. The project began with a multidisciplinary extension course in ATHIS and Right to the City, in which professionals such as architects, engineers, social workers, teachers and graduate students participated, trained to carry out surveys and diagnoses of the effects of floods, preparing the population for future events. Teams were formed according to thematic axes, beginning the research phase and implementing actions, which will be monitored in monthly meetings and periodic visits.