Jean Bitar Hospital celebrates National Forest Protection Day with sustainable actions
The unit of the state public health network reinforces the importance of respecting life, prioritizing the preservation of the natural resources of the Amazon
Jean Bitar Hospital (HJB), in Belém, a unit of the Pará state government health network, participates in the celebrations for National Forest Protection Day (July 17), highlighting initiatives focused on sustainability and care for the environment. On this Thursday (17), the unit reinforces the importance of respecting life in all its forms, through the strengthening of an organizational culture that prioritizes health education and the preservation of the natural resources of the Amazon. The actions involve professionals, users, companions, and the community at large.
The Sustainability Commission of the unit develops a set of operational and economic measures that promote ecological and social awareness.
Among the main highlights are:
- Gold Seal of the GHG Protocol: For the ninth consecutive year, HJB has been recognized with the Gold Seal of the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program, developed by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV/SP). The seal attests to the transparency and integrity of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions inventory, with audited data.
- Little Guardians Project: With the sponsorship of the Barão do Rio Branco State School, the Hospital promotes selective collection and environmental education among students, with the support of a local cooperative and the holding of a recyclable fair.
- Clean energy: With the use of solar energy, HJB received the international Renewable Energy Certificate (I-REC), which proves the renewable and sustainable origin of the energy used in the unit.
- Friend of the Environment Award 2024: The Hospital was awarded an Honorable Mention from the São Paulo State Health Department (SES-SP), which recognizes good sustainable practices within the SUS framework.
- Green Kitchen: For the seventh consecutive year, the unit has won the Green Kitchen seal, awarded by the USP Environmental Research Foundation (Fupam), in recognition of the quality standard in the production of healthy food.
- Solidarity recycling: With the Recycling Project, HJB donates recyclable materials to a cooperative in Belém, directly benefiting more than 50 families.
For the executive director of HJB, Giovani Merenda, the actions reinforce the role of public health in environmental preservation and the appreciation of Amazon resources. “We believe that sustainability also saves lives. Caring for the forest is an extension of our commitment to health. When we promote the use of clean energy, encourage recycling, and educate our children about preservation, we are contributing not only to a healthier environment but to a fairer and more sustainable future for all,” highlighted the manager.
Regiane Brito, 49 years old, a farmer in Ourém, a municipality in northeastern Pará 191 kilometers from Belém, has been accompanying her mother in pulmonary treatment at HJB for over six years and also acts as a volunteer in environmental actions in her municipality. “In our neighborhood, residents gather in the summer for cleaning campaigns of the Guamá River. We collect PET bottles and other waste. It’s a way to care for nature even in the countryside,” she said.
Services — From January to June of this year, HJB performed 236,560 services, maintaining the user satisfaction rate above 93%. Among this total, there were 35,983 medical and non-medical outpatient services, 1,628 hospitalizations, 1,906 surgeries, 191,092 general exams, and 5,951 multiprofessional sessions.
National Forest Protection Day is celebrated on July 17, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of preserving Brazilian forests, which house about 20% of all species on the planet, a large part concentrated in the Amazon. The date also honors Curupira, a character from Brazilian folklore symbolizing the defense of nature, and has already been chosen as the symbol of COP 30, the world conference on climate change, which will take place in November in Belém.
Service: Jean Bitar Hospital belongs to the public health network of the Government of Pará and is managed by the National Institute of Social and Human Development (INDSH), in partnership with the State Health Department (Sespa).
HJB provides assistance in medium and high complexity in the outpatient and hospital areas for transgender users, and in medical and surgical clinics for metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases. It is located at Rua Cônego Jerônimo Pimentel, No. 543, in the Umarizal neighborhood, in Belém. For more information: (091) 3073-6610 or (091) 3108-6161.
Text: Marcelo Zeno - Ascom/HJB
