Projeto Ribeirinho: alunos de medicina fazendo a diferença no atendimento de populações negligenciadas pelo sistema de saúde

Abstract

Introduction:  Social responsibility should be developed among medical students through experiences that go beyond the course program and teach them about their responsibilities in society, being an important component in medical education. Experience Report: The “Ribeirinho” (Riverside Population) Project is a social, philanthropic and non-profit project, organized by medical students to bring primary health care to the Jamari River riverside community (RO). This is an area of difficult access, lacking health professionals and general health care. It was held in July 2017 by medical students who were responsible for all organization and realization of it. It also counted on the participation of the volunteer work of two doctors, a dentist, a dental student and the support of the Jamary River Valley Health Unit, where the project took place. The expenses were funded by companies and individuals who donated money, medicines and food. Barretos Cancer Hospital provided a mobile unit that performed 68 mammograms and 55 Papanicolaou Test. There were also 360 consultations, as well as educational actions and drug donations.  Despite the current inequality it was possible to build public awareness and contribute to universal and equitable access to care for the population, as was done in this project. Conclusion: This project provided access to health for riverside communities, in addition to academic learning, professional and social responsibility, empathy and teamwork for participants. It also provided a broader view of the reality of the public health system in underprivileged and hard-to-reach regions.