Paraguayan Minister of Health visits Fiocruz

Minister of Health of Paraguay, Julio Mazzoleni, and Consul General of the country, Hernando Arteta, visited Fiocruz last Thursday (March 21) for a meeting with the president of the Foundation, Nísia Trindade Lima, and other representatives of the institution.

At the occasion, health cooperation between Paraguay and Fiocruz was discussed. The partnership between the neighboring country and the Foundation is historic and goes back to the work of the patron Oswaldo Cruz.

President of Fiocruz and Minister of Paraguay discuss health cooperation (photo: Peter Ilicciev)

"Next year, Fiocruz will turn 120 years old and it is important to highlight its role as a science institution not only in Brazil, but in the region," said the Foundation's president.
Cooperations already underway between Fiocruz and Paraguay include the Network of Health Technical Schools (RETS), the Network of Health Institutes (RINS) and the Network of Human Milk Banks (rBLH). In addition to networks, the two countries also have bilateral cooperation in health, particularly with regard to surveillance of border epidemics.

"Paraguay needs to be more oriented towards the region and Fiocruz is a strategic partner," said the minister, who intends to strengthen ties after this visit.

Fiocruz Moorish Castle entrance holds plaque from Paraguay in honor of Oswaldo Cruz (photo: Peter Ilicciev)

Following the meeting with the president, the minister visited technical facilities of the Foundation and met with representatives of the Fiocruz Global Health Center (Cris/Fiocruz), the Technological Institute of Immunobiological (Biomanguinhos/Fiocruz) and Institute of Technology in Pharmaceuticals (Farmanguinhos/Fiocruz), the Vice Presidencies of Production and Innovation in Health (VPPIS) and Education, Information and Communication (VPEIC).