A água é essencial para o desenvolvimento socioeconômico de um território e, também, para sobrevivência do ser humano. A escassez hídrica causa impactos diretos e indiretos sobre o ambiente, a economia e a saúde humana, podendo alterar o perfil de morbidade e mortalidade das doenças, além de impactar a oferta de serviços públicos essenciais à qualidade de vida. Este estudo visa contextualizar a ocorrência de estiagem e seca no Brasil, os efeitos à saúde humana, bem como ações a serem desenvolvidas pelo setor saúde para reduzir o risco de exposição da população das áreas atingidas, com ênfase nas ações de vigilância da qualidade da água para consumo humano. Trata-se de estudo descritivo, qualitativo, com base documental. Foram pesquisados documentos elaborados com base em iniciativas da Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde do Ministério da Saúde até 2014. Considera-se necessário fortalecer a capacidade de atuação do Sistema Único de Saúde para desenvolvimento de respostas oportunas para redução do risco à saúde da população.
Palavras-chave:
desastres naturais; seca; saúde ambiental; vigilância da qualidade da água para consumo humano.
Abstract:
Water is essential for socioeconomic development of a region and also for survival of human beings. Water scarcity causes direct and indirect impacts on the environment, economy and human health, and may change the profile of morbidity and mortality of the disease, as well as impact the supply of essential public services to the quality of life. This study aims to contextualize the occurrence of drought in Brazil, the effects on human health as well as actions to be developed by the health sector to reduce the population\'s risk exposure of the affected areas, with an emphasis on drinking water quality surveillance. It is a descriptive, qualitative study with documental basis. Documents drawn up were surveyed based on initiatives of the Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health until 2014. It is considered necessary to strengthen the performance capacity of the Unified Health System to develop timely responses to reduce the risk to public health.
Keywords:
natural disasters; drought; environmental health; surveillance drinking water quality.
Management actions of health sector in drought situations.
Resumo (abstract):
Water is essential for socioeconomic development of a region and also for survival of human beings. Water scarcity causes direct and indirect impacts on the environment, economy and human health, and may change the profile of morbidity and mortality of the disease, as well as impact the supply of essential public services to the quality of life. This study aims to contextualize the occurrence of drought in Brazil, the effects on human health as well as actions to be developed by the health sector to reduce the population\'s risk exposure of the affected areas, with an emphasis on drinking water quality surveillance. It is a descriptive, qualitative study with documental basis. Documents drawn up were surveyed based on initiatives of the Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health until 2014. It is considered necessary to strengthen the performance capacity of the Unified Health System to develop timely responses to reduce the risk to public health.
Palavras-chave (keywords):
natural disasters; drought; environmental health; surveillance drinking water quality.
