Nielmar de Oliveira
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Rio - The Minister of Health, Saraiva Felipe, guaranteed on Friday (17), in Rio de Janeiro, that the federal government will spend around US$ 217.67 (R$ 500 million) this year to further its National Policy for the Care of Disadvantaged People. He made this announcement at the opening ceremony of the World Wheelchair and Amputee Games, which will run through Saturday (24).

"These resources will make it possible to provide medical care, ranging from house calls to treatments of medium and high complexity, and will also serve to give assistance in the areas of physiotherapy, psychology, and various other treatments demanded by the 113 organizations that exist in Brazil to help the handicapped. Five of these organizations are located in Rio de Janeiro," he said.

Referring to the importance of the event, which will bring together, in Rio, around a thousand athletes from 48 countries, for the first time on the American continent, the minister recalled that the games are a preparation for the Pan-American Wheel Chair Games, which will take place in Rio in 2007.

"It is, therefore, an event of great interest to the Ministry of Health, above all when it is associated with the message of peace. And in the context of the national atmosphere of debate on disarmament. As we know, firearms are a significant cause of paraplegia. We are engaged here in a campaign attempting to disarm hands and spirits, so that we can establish a culture of peace in the country," the minister remarked.

Translation: David Silberstein