Coronavirus Volunteer Program in Rio Enrols Over 15,000 in Two Days

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – There were over 10,000 applicants in the first 24 hours of operation alone. Among the volunteers, 56 percent are students and 44 percent are health care practitioners, including doctors, nurses, nursing technicians, physiotherapists, nutritionists, psychologists, and others.

Volunteers will reinforce the teams in the patient care units as a result of the Covid-19 infection throughout the state. According to the Secretary of Health, Edmar Santos, saving lives is what is motivating the population to apply.

“Solidarity will make a difference with volunteers by strengthening the fight in caring for patients with coronavirus. The more people enrolled the fewer deaths. A current of solidarity is forming throughout the state. However, I emphasize that the [general] population must follow the measures and not move, by staying at home,” he says.

Enrollments are carried out through the website www.voluntarioscoronavirus.rj.gov.br, developed in partnership with the State’s Information and Communication Technology Center (PRODERJ). For the president of the agency, Mauro Farias, technology is presented as an ally to health.

“We are committed to serving the various areas of the state’s operations in the fight against the coronavirus. The number of people registered on the website evidences the Brazilian people’s spirit of solidarity in critical situations such as this one”, he highlighted.

Dr. Cristina Quadrat, 56, is among the volunteers enrolled. With over thirty years in the profession, the general practitioner has already volunteered in Portugal during the Ebola epidemic in 2014.

“At this time, all help is welcome. We know that the crisis could escalate and I feel happy and anxious to be able to help as many people as possible in this difficult scenario,” she said.

Nursing student Douglas Borges, 19, and his classmates learned about the volunteer program through social media.

“I’m not afraid to be in the front line in fighting the new virus, because I feel I was born to help at a time like this. That’s why I chose this job. It’s important for people to remain at home, because we’re going out to the streets, to hospitals to take care of those who really need it”, he said.

When enrolling, applicants need to enter their phone numbers and e-mail addresses, as these are the channels through which the SES will be in contact. The number of applicants can be followed in real-time on the website.