Roda-Hans Project Reinforces the Importance of Early Diagnosis of Leprosy in Pará

With a fully equipped truck for consultations and training, the Roda-Hans Project: Health Truck – Leprosy is traveling through municipalities in Pará with the aim of strengthening the primary care network, ensuring early diagnosis of the disease, increasing access to treatment, and intensifying surveillance actions through active contact tracing.

The initiative is the result of Technical Cooperation Agreement No. 01/2023, signed between the Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat (SVSA/MS), Novartis Biociências S.A., and the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD), with strategic support from the Pará State Health Secretariat (Sespa) and municipal health secretariats.

The truck, which measures 18.20 meters in length and has five offices and a laboratory, operates as a mobile structure for teaching and assistance, bringing specialized knowledge and health services to the territories. The project includes theoretical and practical classes taught by specialists from the SBD, such as dermatologist Dr. João Francisco de Oliveira Neto, and leprologist Dr. Roseane Pereira de Deus.

According to the state coordinator of the Leprosy Control Program, Luiz Augusto, one of the differentiating factors of Roda-Hans is the physical presence of the truck in strategic points of the municipalities, which brings the population closer to health services.

“This mobile approach has proven effective in expanding coverage and raising community awareness. The project aims to ensure not only diagnosis and treatment but also health education and strengthening of primary care, in line with the principles of SUS: universality, comprehensiveness, and resolutiveness,” he emphasized.

Since August 18, Roda-Hans has already visited three municipalities and is expected to cover a total of ten municipalities in Pará by October 2025.

Municipalities already visited:

Conceição do Araguaia: August 18 to 22

Xinguara: August 25 to 29

Marabá: September 1 to 5

Upcoming visits:

Ulianópolis: September 8 to 10

Paragominas: September 11 and 12

Mãe do Rio: September 15 to 17

São Miguel do Guamá: September 18 and 19

Belém: September 22 to 26

Marituba: September 29 and 30

Castanhal: October 1 to 3

Text: Suellen Santos/ Ascom Sespa