INTRODUCTION SCOPH Exchange is a theoretic and practical exchange in the public health area. “SCOPH” means Standing Committee on Public Health and is one of six IFMSA’s committees. IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations) is a federation for medical students from more than 110 countries around the world. The SCOPH Exchange mission is to promote an immersion of medical students into a Healthcare System, the Unified Healthcare System (SUS) in the case of Brazil, experiencing social determination of health-disease process, rising up discussions and trainings in public health area, considering thematic areas proposed and healthcare systems around the world. The SCOPH Exchange Brazil emerged in DENEM when our Project “Brazil Cuba Public Health Exchange” (NBC) was presented in the IFMSA’s events. This Project exists for at least 15 years, promoted by an agreement between DENEM and the College Student Federation from Cuba. The main goal of NBC is also the medical students’ immersion in a different healthcare system because, despite having similar principles between them, they are inserted in the same social background, which allows great discussions about social determinant of health-disease process. When the NBC was presented during international meetings, so many questions came up: “Why just Cuba?”, “How can I adjust it to my local reality?” These inquiries and Brazilian experiences on community extension were important to DENEM´s decision to promote an opportunity in which medical students around the world could come to Brazil and discover our healthcare system that, despite flaws and contradictions, it has been acknowledged by the international community as an example to be followed. Moreover, internship into peripheral communities has been a pronounced practice encouraged by student movement in Brazil, predominantly in the health area, as a way to sensitize students about ethical and social values of Brazilian healthcare system, aiming for them to become doctors that work to achieve social progress and changes. Goals Promote a theoretical, practical and social exchange among medical students. Encourage discussion about in healthcare systems around the world Raise awareness about social determination of health-disease process. How can it influence in the medical practice and in the promotion of health? See the importance of family doctors and their importance on primary health as health promoters and disease preventers. Capacitate students to become protagonists for socials progresses on healthcare system within their countries and on global health. To discuss about health access in the world on all levels of health promotion as a way to provide improvements to minorities and neglected populations.
THEME EVENT “Why health access is important?” In 2005, WHO Member States have committed themselves to achieve universal health coverage. The compromise was a collective expression of the conviction that all people should have access to health services they need without the risk of financial ruin or impoverishment. Working towards to universal health coverage is a powerful mechanism to achieve better health conditions and social wealth, and to promote human development. In countries that do not have a well-structured health system, people who cannot pay just remain sick or die. The 2010 WHO report brought up an important issue, "financing of health systems: the path to universal coverage." In this document, WHO is concerned about health expenses, which can compromise much of the common population’s budget and generate real financial disasters. The outcome may contribute to social inequality and impoverishment. However, several challenges are proposed: What services should be a priority in access to health? Who should reach the health system? What should this system provide? Who should pay for health bill? Through WHO’s Constitution we can point out the defense of health as a basic right of every human being, "enjoy the best health status that can be achieved is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition." In 1988, the Brazilian Federation Constitution emphasized that the Government the obligation to ensure health for all "through social and economic policies aimed at reducing the risk of disease and other hazards, the universal and equal access to actions and services for its promotion, protection and recovery.” This concept was instrumental in structuring of the Brazilian Unified Health System and its principles of equality, equity, integrity and gratuity. However, it was also approved a complement of health services provided by the private health sector and, over more than 25 years we have seen the damage caused to public health by the private sector.
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The 2010 report also underlines the importance of avoiding the health wastes, suggesting some measures such as: 1. Get the most out of technologies and health services; 2. Motivating health workers; 3. Improve hospital efficiency; 4. Obtaining the correct care in initial contact, by reduction of misconduct; 5. Eliminate waste and corruption; 6. assess critically what services are necessary. The Brazilian reality can contribute to the fifth item analysis. Unfortunately, Brazil still has high levels of corruption, with the healthcare often involved in scandals. The most recent example happened last year when five health insurance companies have donated about 42 million reais (national currecy) the campaign candidature of 131 parliamentarians. In contrast, the Brazilian Congress this year canceled the debts of 2 billion healthcare companies were the Brazilian treasuries. Moreover, in Brazil, there were 75,916 complaints against health plans, with 75.7% of them related to denial of coverage. From this we can realize when the promotion of public services becomes important in promoting access to health for all. It’s essential the discussion about the financing of health systems. WHO recognizes that about 6-8% of GDP (gross Domestic Product) should be applied to the health system. In Brazil, this rate is around 4.5%, while more than 40% of GDP is allocated to the payment of foreign debt. Several other countries are in a similar situation, which undermines one of the most important concepts of universal coverage in health: funding. Finally, within each thread it will be possible to analyze the social determination of the health-disease process and the natural history of some diseases within the three levels of healthcare. We need to think about public health as integral care for all, recognizing their causalities and effectively considering their interventions. Thus, we can have public health actors really committed to the real needs of the population. "You can’t get a healthy life with changes of individual effects and lifestyles. Even if you make an epidemiological massive campaign, improvements can be obtained, but they are not sustainable. You can change the model of care or health problem in an office and it is right and necessary to be done. However, they can only achieve profound and sustainable changes when we change the broader social reproduction and structured ways of living of social classes." (Jaime Breilh)
BACKGROUND – THE BRAZILIAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Unified Healthcare System (SUS) During the last two centuries, the concept of health has been subject of many discussions. At first, what meant only “absence of disease” has been defined by the World Health Organization, in 1946, as a whole physical, mental and social welfare. This change was result of a different understanding of the health-disease process, which also started an alteration in the models of healthcare systems around the world. In England, 1948, the National Health Service (NHS) was created, a health system considered to be pioneer by their focus on primary health care and by its attributes of being 100% public and universal. Afterwards, others models resembled the NHS model’s features, such as Canada, Quebec and Brazil. The history of health policies in Brazil have a controversial face since Oswaldo Cruz, a doctor who coordinated campaigns to eradicate infectious diseases. The population considered his approach truculent and their dissatisfaction culminated in the Vaccine Revolt, in 1904. During the twentieth century, the actions on health that used to happen as a campaign model and the health insurance model, when the workers collected money into a pension account became shallower. Although labor categories assured their health assistance, unemployed and informal workers depended on philanthropic hospitals. Furthermore, the creation of a large number of private hospitals was financed by the Brazilian Government. That was when the healthcare model in Brazil contributed to raise the hegemonic tendencies, pictured as purely curative, with a heavy use of technology and with the hospital institution as the main focus of the health system. During the post military dictatorship period in Brazil, 1985, while there was a broad democratization process, the Unified Healthcare System (SUS in Portuguese) was born. As a result of many fights years before, the Health Reform Movement guaranteed their spot into a new Constitution Assembly in 1986. Then, health began to be included as a State’s duties, considered now a right to all Brazilian citizens, resembling the
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NHS’ principle of universality. However, this project doesn’t exclude the private health care, which is considered, by Brazilian Constitution, as a supplementary part of the SUS. The SUS creation brought some others principles and attributes, such as: full attention and focus on preventive activities, regionalization, hierarchy, society control, fully public funding. Within this system, the primary healthcare began to take a place, mainly after the creation of Family Health Strategy in 1994. Based in some national experiences as Niteroi and Londrina, and international experiences like in England, Cuba and Quebec, the Family Health model has been consolidating the Primary Care as a great need considering public health. After all, What Primary Care is? The Primary Health Care (PHC) model is a Health System organization strategy, originally based on the English 1920’s Dawson’s Report. It represents a disruption of the hegemonic model of the American 1910’s Flexner Report, previously illustrated on this essay. The PHC basis is the implementation of Basic Unities, responsible for a specific territory and 80% of the health demand of this same region. In the Basic Unities, less technological services, prevention and medical follow-up are provided. The purpose is that the team of health practitioners responsible for the Unit could be able to identify the singularities of the territory and also be able to know about the family, social well-being and mental health of a patient. Thus, the Community Health Worker, as part of the neighborhood, are very important by knowing the community reality. Moreover, a multidisciplinary team and family doctors, which are general doctors able to work on Primary Care, are also very important on the PHC. The 20% left of the health demand are directed to Specialized Polyclinics and Hospitals, using a reference and counter-reference system. On this way, we have a Health System organized in levels. Those levels are not organized in a hierarchical fashion. In fact, they are organized according to the technology density needed in the service. In one hand, we have the PHC using more basic tools of care, being its main instrument the doctor-patient relationship. In the other hand, we’ve got the tertiary care (high tech hospitals), employing high-tech exam techniques, such as a Computed Tomography.
The SUS Principles SUS is based on some principles, which we can divide in guidelines and structural. The guidelines principles are equity, universality and integrality. The structural principles are regionalization and hierarchization, decentralization and social control. How does it work? Equity concerns the destination of resources proportionally to those who depends more on SUS or to those in a major vulnerability situation. Equity is to deal differently with diverse people, looking forward for the relief of the disparities and the achievement of equality per se. For example, the fact that Family Clinics are implemented in more social risky places follows the equity principle, focusing on the attention care of more socially vulnerable people, since it is not possible to build a complete infrastructure health network for financial restrictions. Another example would be the destination of a larger amount of financial resources to patients under dialysis, an expensive procedure with a relevant morbidity risk. However, those situations can be on inequity, in the case of they being prioritized over other more needy situation. Universality is the guarantee of access of any citizen to all levels of care. When the user can enter the primary care, but cannot reach the specialties, we have a case where the access to the health system is impaired, so it is not being universal in fact. The integrity principle can be seen in many ways. According Levell and Clark (1976), an integrity service reaches all sickness levels and the levels of prevention - primary, secondary and tertiary - described in the natural history of disease. However, other concepts are proposed for the same term. One example is the three axes Completeness by Mattos (2001): 1) In the professional practice, when we think how a patient can be inserted into a socio-political context, with its peculiarities, with dimensions beyond to biological: psychological and cultural as, for example; 2) The organization of health services, as would be the case of SUS, which is structured to follow the patient at all stages of their health-disease process; 3) The laws and guidelines developed by the State. In this case there’s the example of the AIDS policy, which operates from health promotion and prevention, education campaigns and condom distribution, to the healing and rehabilitation, with antiretroviral therapy and the counseling of both the patient and their partners.
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About the regionalization and hierarchy, it is important to know that the SUS proposes both the organization of the system in regions as the hierarchy of services within these regions. Within the states, there are divisions in regions. Within these regions, pacts and agreements are signed. For example, assuming one of the city has very few inhabitants, suddenly it would be better if there were a structured Primary service strengthened, studded with common specialties. But, suddenly there was no demand for a highly complex hospital in the region; this would be an unnecessary expense because the manager could lay out and wake up so that a nearby town, to larger, willing that service and the offer to the city when it needed. Therefore, in the regions, there is a picture of a cityreference, which therefore specifically offers some services that are not available anywhere in the network. When done right, this pacts game is a great policy for containing costs without sacrificing health system. The issue of hierarchy is that it classifies services according to the density of hard technologies and its prevalence in the population, in order to establish a preferential flow of the user on the network, according to their need for health. Therefore, we have the pyramid, whose base is the Primary Health Centers that with light technologies, can meet the majority of the population´s demand. After this "filter", those in need of technology a little heavier would be sent to the Secondary Care, which would be attended by specialized professionals. If there is heavy demand for technology such as a CT or an innovative surgery, you would be referred to the Tertiary Care. This presupposes a system of reference and counter-reference. One analysis of this model is that it implies an organization of the SUS that does not occur. You will not always look for the Primary Health Centers (and excessive bureaucratization would only allow PHC as a gateway), their inclusion in the network is given where access is available, either in the Family Clinic, a polyclinic or emergency department of a tertiary hospital even considering their social networks. Therefore, a hosting service would be necessary in all entrance doors, not only in PHC, so that, after attending, you could be referred to the PHC. Therefore, the model would be understood as a circle, and not as a pyramid. The idea of decentralization is that the management of health services be given in smaller territorial units in the states and especially in the cities. Given the continental influence of our country, this strategy aims at better management of resources. The federal government conducts financial transfers to municipalities, and offers incentives for adherence to these federal programs. For example, municipalities that joined the Family Health Strategy receive additional funding to develop the proposal.
Finally, the SUS provides social participation and social control. This happens in several instances, some more active than others. Examples are the Health Councils, which exist in the federal, state and municipal levels. In the case of some municipalities, local neighborhood associations have great social control over the community’s modules. Although disputed by some people, social participation as a constitutional principle is a great victory and an important mechanism for monitoring health services, so that the SUS increasingly walk in the direction of its user's needs. The SUS reality The SUS is a young health system. Compared to the NHS, for example, it is almost newborn. So there are many obstacles to overcome. The struggle that marked the trajectory of health reform and culminated in the creation of the system may not have cleared their calls. First, the design of the PHC opposes the immediacy desire of people. When we suffer, just we want a remedy to heal our pain. We must understand that not always the medicalization of a situation is the best solution; that a remedy is unable to resolve the psychosocial universe that we are inherent. Take down this cultural barrier is a challenge. Also, some policies try, worldwide, dismantle public health systems for the benefit of private interests. Booklets are produced to determine the minimum responsibility of the state with health. As a result, we see the insecurity and the utility scrap. The SUS is underfunded. The country invests only 4.5% of its health budget. We see the public administration delivered to the private sector. It takes strength and a lot of fighting. Although many news about the precarious conditon of public hospitals and a lot of criticism of the care provided, we must also observe some positive aspects that the SUS has performed. Currently, the public system covers much of the population of vaccination. Vaccines are available, as BCG (tuberculosis), MMR (measles), yellow fever, influenza, among others. We are even self-sufficient in the production of many of these. The SUS also offers other services such as organ transplants, dialysis, Popular Pharmacy, and the ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency). We have international reference points such as the INCA - National Cancer Institute and the INC - National Institute of Cardiology. Even underfunded, the SUS is efficient health system. Moreover, all the services are to Brazilian population, not for small-group interests. It has long been forward yet. To expand and consolidate the network of primary care. Improve the infrastructure of the secondary and tertiary levels. Reduce waiting lists. Increase funding for SUS. To train more professionals. The road ahead is long and tough
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but we cannot deceive. In order to have this experience you will need to open you mid and your heart. We are made of many good things, and those good things give us hope as professionals to every da get better. That is the inset where are formed future health professionals. It is this contradiction between the consolidation and disassemble of a universal system that the patient has access to healthcare. This need to consider the positives and try to solve the negative. The SUS was never delivered by the goodwill; the right to health is the result of much effort and many claim. Its consolidation requires the same fighting spirit of the Health Reform Movement. Or rather, requires more. It requires all of us, that directly or indirectly we enjoy this system. Requires all of us, we understand health as a right, and not as a commodity.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU WITH US!
REGISTRATIONS
It will be available in August 8, 2015. The registration will be done through the filling of the form in official website www.scophexchangebrazil.com and the sending of following documents to the email scophexchangebrazil@gmail.com: 1. Proof of enrollment in a medical schools which belong to a IFMSA’s NMO (National Member Organization) 2. Letter of Recommendation signed and stamped by the legal representatives (president, general coordinator etc.) from IFMSA’s Local Committee. 3. Term of Responsibility signed by the participant according with the disciplinary rules, which includes basically not causes damages to the buildings provided for SCOPH Exchange. Spots In this first edition are available 15 (fifteen) spots for foreign participants and 5 (five) spots for Brazilian participants. The Brazilian also should send the same documents, reminding that DENEM’s local committees are academic centers and directories and the official language of SCOPH Exchange is English.
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Selection The selection of the participants will be according the score establish for each criteria in the form. The diversity of nationalities will be considered. Payment The payment should be done within the deadline through the charge of 225 EUROS by the invoice sent to selected participants. The tax includes: 1. All practice theoretical schedule of SCOPH Exchange 2. Accommodation during SCOPH Exchange 3. 2 (two) meals per day CALENDAR The social program expenses could be eventually charged, in case of the OC Open for registrations: August 8, 2015 couldn’t deal with free partnerships. Deadline for registrations and sending the required All the others expenses, including fly documents: August 31, 2015 tickets, Overland transfers or taxes with Announcement of participants selected: September visas must be paid by the participants. 5, 2015 Payment: September 6 to 20, 2015 SCOPH Exchange: January 3 to 24, 2016
VISAS The most part of the countries doesn’t need visa to entry in Brazil. However you can see your situation through the link: http://www.portalconsular.mre.gov.br/estrangeiros/1qgrv-simples-ing-25.06.2015.pdf
TRAVELING The Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (RIOGaleĂŁo) is directly connected with 27 cities around the world through 24 airlines. Aerolineas Argentinas AeroMexico Air Canada Air France Alitalia American Airlines Avianca Azul British Airways Copa Airlines Delta Airlines Emirates
Gol Iberia KLM Lan Chile Lufthansa Passaredo TAAG TACA Peru TAM TAP United Airlines US Airways
Access the link to more information: http://www.riogaleao.com/en/
VENUE State University of Rio de Janeiro The history of the State University of Rio de Janeiro begins in 1950 with the founding of the Federal District University (UDF). Throughout these decades, UERJ has grown and established itself as one of the leading universities of the country. Its importance in the Brazilian academic space can be attested by the quality of higher education that offers, for the amount of its scientific production, the hundreds of extension projects in development, the promotion of culture and the numerous services rendered to the population. His concern for the customer service and the constant improvement of its services has made the University was a pioneer in creating its own ombudsman: was the first public university in the State of Rio de Janeiro to create this exercise of citizenship instance. Public institution, its mission is based on principles of equality and plurality Pedro Ernesto University Hospital It’s the UERJ’s hospital placed in Maracanã neighborhood. Mission Provide integrated, humane and excellent health care, and transforming agent of society through teaching, research and community extension. View Being a benchmark of excellence in teaching, research and care in the health sector of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Principles: respect for life and human dignity, ethics in relationships, transparency in the disclosure of shares, technical Competence, team work, pioneering, social responsibility.
ACCOMMODATION It will be provided by the Organizing Committee accommodation with individual beds in a hostel or flat rented specially to receive the SCOPH Exchange with all comfort that Rio can offer.
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SCHEDULE Day 1 - January 3rd Sunday
Morning
Afternoon
Night
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Practice: Food Health
Practice: Introduction: Food Health Mental Health
Practice: Mental Health
Practice: Food Health
Practice: Practice: Food Health Mental Health
Practice: Mental Health
Introduction: Food Health
Evaluation: Food Health
Evaluation: Evaluation: Food Health Mental Health
Evaluation: Mental Health
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Monday
Tuesday Practice: Tropical and Infectious Disease Practice: Tropical and Infectious Disease Evaluation: Tropical and Infectious disease
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Practice: Tropical and Infectious Disease
Introduction: Rural Health
Practice: Rural Health
Practice: Tropical and Infectious Disease
Practice: Rural Health
Practice: Rural Health
Evaluation: Tropical and Infectious disease
Social Program
Evaluation: Rural Health
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Wednesday Practice: Health, Gender and Sexuality Practice: Health, Gender and Sexuality Evaluation: Health, Gender and Sexuality
Thursday Evaluation: Health, Gender and Sexuality
Friday
Saturday
Monday Introduction: SCOPH Exchange and Brazilian National Welcome to Brazil: Reception Healthcare System and Theme Event: accomodation Healthcare systems in the world Social Program
Day 8 - January 10th Sunday Morning
Training Session Afternoon
Social Program
Introduction: Tropical and Infectious Disease
Night
Day 15 – January 17th Sunday Morning
Afternoon
Social Program
Night
Day 22 January 24th Sunday Departure
Day 16 Monday
Day 17
Tuesday Practice: Health, Gender and Sexuality Training Sessions Practice: Health, Gender and Sexuality Evaluation: Introduction: Health, Health, Gender and Gender and Sexuality Sexuality
Social Program
Social Program
Theme Event: Access to Health for all
Training Session
Evaluation
Social Program
Social Program
Social Program
THEMATIC THREADS Five thematic threads were selected as methodology to develop the goals. Within each one there’s practice activities on the threes levels of health attention besides a time to theoretical discussion and evaluation of the experiences. They are:
Food Health
Tropical and infectious diseases
Themes: Agrotoxics and green revolution, Sugar policies, noncommunicable diseases.
Themes: Tuberculosis, Hanseniasis, Viral diseases, epidemics control and prevention
Practice: - Food management and organic market - Diabetes clinic - Hypertension clinic - Obesity surgery
Practice: - Vulnerable scenario - Family doctor office - Tropical Diseases Research Institution - Infectious diseases hospital
Mental health
Rural Health
Themes: Drugs abuse and policies, Psychiatric reform and social reintegration, Mental Health and art.
Themes: Rural Internship, Sustainable development, agricultural reform, indigenous health
Practice: - Drug Users scenario - Family doctor office - Psychosocial Care Center - Psychiatric Institution
Practice: - Rural School - Agricultural community - Indigenous community
METHODOLOGY - Theme Event: Lectures about why access to health is important. - Introduction: Presentation and procedures about each thematic thread. - Practice: Visit health services and communities outside of the venue. - Evaluation: Discussions about how the SCOPH Exchange is going and the impressions of the participant about each thematic thread. - Training sessions: Time to capacity the students to become protagonists on public health area. - Social Program: It’s time to discover the Brazilian culture.
Heath, Gender and Sexuality Themes: LGBTphobia, Violence against women, HIV and AIDS, Safe abortion, and obstetrics violence. Practice: - Family doctor office - Maternity Hospital - Center for support HIV carries - Gender resignation surgery
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DENEM Brazil The National Executive Direction of Brazilian Medical Students (DENEM Brazil) is the organization that represents all medical students from Brazil. Currently there are more than 120,000 students from 256 medical schools. Founded on August 2, 1986, in a post military dictatorship period, DENEM Brazil came to achieve the will of the students to fight for changes in health and medical education in Brazil. DENEM Brazil participated in the creation of the Unified Health System (SUS) and still advocating for improvements and for a better access to health Brazil. In addition, DENEM Brazil was present during the two major processes of reforms in national guidelines of medical education, one in 2001 and another in 2014, ensuring that the student demands were heard. Today DENEM Brazil is divided by 8 regions to achieve the great demand for representation and social action. There is also the Coordination for External Affairs, responsible for direct contact with IFMSA and its committees, as well as other international organizations. Therefore, there is CENEPES, the center of studies and research on education and health, which are organized 8 coordination responsible for bring the theoretical debates and advances to DENEM Brazil. They are: - Coordination for Health Policies - Coordination for Education and Heath - Coordination for Education Policies - Coordination for Science Coordination for Community Extension (Projects) - Coordination for Culture - Coordination for Environment - Coordination for Exchanges and Experiences
Today, there are 140 national coordinators in DENEM. To guide all these ones there’s the National Head Officers, composed by the General Coordinator, Finance Coordinator and the Communications Coordinator. How does DENEM Brazil act? -
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Visiting the medical school to talk with local committees about their needs. Promoting more than 15 regional and national meetings per year for take important decisions and elaborate better the themes for medical education and health mainly. Representing the medicinal students before government departments, Federal Council of Medicine, Brazilian Association of Medical Education, National Council of Health and other important institutions. Promoting more than 600 exchanges opportunities for medical students Promoting projects on national level and encouraging the local committees to develop it too through the community extension. Producing manuals, booklets etc. regarding the themes discussed into the Organization. Developing science through scientific meeting and journals.
Every day we have huge challenges however the will to build a better world makes us to move.
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SOCIAL PROGRAM
Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) Statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, created by French sculptor Paul Landowski and built by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, in collaboration with the French engineer Albert Caquot. The statue weighs 635 metric tons (625 long, 700 short tons), and is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city of Rio. As a symbol of Brazilian Christianity, the statue has become an icon for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931
Sugar Loaf Mountain It’s a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the mouth of Guanabara Bay, on a peninsula that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising 396 meters (1,299 ft) above the harbor, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. It is known worldwide for its cableway and panoramic views of the city.
Parque Lague Public Park, located in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood at the foot of the Corcovado. The land was formerly the residence of industrialist Enrique Lage and his wife, singer Gabriella Besanzoni. During the 1920s Lage had the mansion remodeled by Italian architect Mario Vodrel, with interior paintings by Salvador Payols Sabaté. In the 1960s the land became a public park, with walking trails through subtropical forest. The Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage (Visual Arts School of Parque Lage) and a café open to the public operate from the former mansion. The mansion was notably featured in the 2003 music video for Snoop Dogg's single "Beautiful”.
Botanical Garden The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden or Jardim Botânico is located at the Jardim Botânico district in the "Zona Sul" (South Zone) of Rio de Janeiro. The Botanical Garden shows the diversity of Brazilian and foreign flora. There are around 6,500 species (some endangered) distributed throughout an area of 54 hectares, and there are numerous greenhouses. The Garden also houses monuments of historical, artistic and archaeological significance. There is an important research center, which includes the most complete library in the country specializing in botany with over 32,000 volumes. It was founded in 1808 by King John VI of Portugal. Originally intended for the acclimatization of spices like nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon imported from the West Indies, the Garden was opened to the public in 1822, and is now open during daylight hours every day except 25 December and 1 January.
Ipanema Beach Most of the land that Ipanema consists of today once belonged to José Antonio Moreira Filho, Baron of Ipanema. The word "Ipanema" did not refer originally to the beach, but to the homeland of the baron at São Paulo. Ipanema gained fame with the start of the bossa nova sound, when its residents Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes created their ode to their neighborhood, "Girl from Ipanema." The song was written in 1962, with music by Jobim and Portuguese lyrics by de Moraes with English lyrics written later by Norman Gimbel. Its popularity has seen a resurgence with Diana Krall's song "Boy from Ipanema" released in 2008 The beach of Ipanema is known for its elegant development and its social life. Two mountains called the Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) rise at the western end of the beach, which is divided into segments by marks known aspostos (lifeguard towers). Beer is sold everywhere, along with the traditional cachaça. There are always circles of people playing football, volleyball, and footvolley, a locally invented sport that is a combination of volleyball and football.
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Copacabana Beach Copacabana beach, located at the Atlantic shore, stretches from Posto Dois (lifeguard watchtower Two) to Posto Seis (lifeguard watchtower Six). There are historic forts at both ends of Copacabana beach; Fort Copacabana, built in 1914, is at the south end by Posto Seis and Fort Duque de Caxias, built in 1779, at the north end. One curiosity is that the lifeguard watchtower of Posto Seis never existed. Hotels, restaurants, bars, night clubs and residential buildings dot the promenade. Copacabana Beach plays host to millions of revellers during the annual New Year's Eve celebrations and, in most years, has been the official venue of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Vista Chinesa The Vista Chinesa (Chinese Belvedere) is one of the belvedere of Rio de Janeiro, at the topmost of one of the roads that connect the Jardim Bot창nico area to the Parque Nacional & Floresta da Tijuca, known as the Vista Chinesa
Arcos da Lapa The Carioca Aqueduct (Portuguese: Aqueduto da Carioca) is an aqueduct in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aqueduct was built in the middle of the 18th century to bring fresh water from the Carioca river to the population of the city. It is an impressive example of colonial architecture and engineering.
The Carioca Aqueduct is located in the centre of the city, in the Lapa neighborhood, and is frequently called Arcos da Lapa (Lapa Arches) by Brazilian people. Since the end of the 19th century the aqueduct serves as a bridge for a popular tram that connects the city centre with the Santa Teresa neighborhood uphill, the Santa Teresa Tramway.
Favela Dona Marta Favela Santa Marta (Saint Martha's favela) is a favela located in the Botafogo and Laranjeiras part of the Morro Dona Marta (Dame Martha's Hill), that is also divided with the neighborhoods of Flamengo, Cosme Velho and Silvestre, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It has about 8000 residents, with 500 wooden houses, 2000 brick houses, 4 kindergartens, 3 bakeries, 2 sports fields, 1 block of a samba school, 3 military units and 1 small market. The favela is one of the steepest in the city. Recently, the favela has been undergoing a process of urbanization. Several popular houses were built with sewage, water piping and installation of electrical cables. One of the most important works done in recent years in Dona Marta was the construction of a cable car that facilitates the transport of residents to higher areas of the hill. Another major change in Dona Marta was the occupation of military force. On November 28, 2008 the control of Dona Marta was turned to civil police forces when Rio's first Pacifying Police Unit was established there. Since 2008 the favela has no more drug trafficking. Dona Marta was the setting for international events as part of the clip of "They Don't Care About Us� by Michael Jackson.
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Escadarias Selaron Escadaria Selarón, also known as the 'Selaron Steps', is a set of world-famous steps in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They are the work of Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón who claimed it as "my tribute to the Brazilian people
Teatro Municipal The Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theatre) of Rio de Janeiro is located in Cinelândia (Praça Marechal Floriano) in the city center of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Built in the beginning of the twentieth century, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful and important theatres in the country. The building is designed in an eclectic style, inspired by the Paris Opera of Charles Garnier. The outside walls are inscribed with the names of classic Eurocentric & Brazilian artists. It is located near the National Library and the National Fine Arts Museum, overlooking the spacious Cinelândia Square.
Tijuca Forest The Tijuca Forest (Floresta da Tijuca in Portuguese) is a tropical rainforest in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is claimed to be the world's largest urban forest, covering bothsome 32 km² (12.4 mi²), although there are sources assigning this title to the urban forest of Johannesburg, South Africa, where between 6 and 9.5 million trees were planted. The forest shares its name with bairros or neighborhoods of Tijuca and Barra da Tijuca that contain its entrances. It is located in a mountainous region, which encompasses the Tijuca Massif. The word "Tijuca" from Tupi language which means marsh, and is a reference to the Tijuca Lagoon in the contemporary Barra da Tijuca. The forest forms a
natural boundary that separates the West Zone of the city from the South, Central and North ones, and the North Zone from the South one. The Tijuca Forest is a man-made reclamation of land around Rio de Janeiro that had previously been cleared and developed to grow sugar and coffee. Replanting was carried out by Major Manuel Gomes Archer in the second half of the 19th century in a successful effort to protect Rio's water supply. This followed concerns made by the Brazilian King Dom Pedro II in 1861 about erosion and deforestation caused by intensive farming, as declining levels of rainfall had already begun impacting on the supply of drinking water
Maracanã It is a football stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The stadium is part of a complex that includes an arena known by the name ofMaracanãzinho, which means "the Little Maracanã" in Portuguese. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro state government, it is, as is the Maracanã neighborhood where it is located, named after the Rio Maracanã, a now canalized river in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, in which Brazil was beaten 2–1 by Uruguay in the deciding game. Since then, it has mainly been used for football matches between the major football clubs in Rio de Janeiro, includingFlamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo and Vasco da Gama. It has also hosted a number of concerts and other sporting events.
Fort of Copacabana Military base at the south end of the beach that defines the district of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. The base is open to the public and contains the Museu Histórico do Exército (Museum of the History of the Army) and a coastal defense fort that is the actual Fort Copacabana.
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