Brasília, September 10, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Ministry of Health will build 130 Workers' Health Reference Centers by April, 2004. Cases of accidents or health problems caused by working conditions should be dealt with in these centers. According to the Ministry of Health's National Workers' Health Network (Renast), "workers in the formal and informal sectors with health problems related to rural and urban labor conditions will enjoy full coverage."

The Ministry will invest R$ 43.5 million on these centers for workers. The project will be financed with resources drawn from the Fund for Strategic Actions and Compensation (Faec). By the end of this year, 60 Workers' Health Reference Centers will be set up.

According to the Ministry, programs will be assured in the areas of supervision, promotion, protection, recuperation, and rehabilitation on behalf of workers who are injured or victims of work-related diseases. The Centers will also guarantee Social Security and labor law provisions. The Centers should also act to disseminate a culture that regards work as a positive health factor. In addition, they will register all cases of accidents and work-related diseases treated in public health institutions (SUS).

The chief function of these centers will be to screen patients, which, according to the Ministry, "wiill guarantee more adequate care." The team will be made up of doctors, nurses, psychologists, and work therapists. The task of the Workers' Health Reference Centers will be carried out together with the Family Health Program, in order to serve a greater number of workers. (DAS)