Health and Sustainability: Hospital Jean Bitar Anticipates the Challenges of the Climate Crisis
The unit applies good environmental practices, such as proper management of hospital waste, rational use of water and energy
Amid COP30, held in Belém, Hospital Jean Bitar (HJB) stands out for integrating sustainability into its mission of caring for health. In a published article, the executive director and hospital manager Giovani Merenda argues that health institutions must assume a "preventive responsibility" in the face of climate impacts on the right to health, a concept he calls Preventive Medical Right.
Following this vision, HJB has invested in concrete actions to reduce environmental impacts and strengthen its capacity to respond to climate changes. Among the initiatives are proper management of hospital waste, rational use of water and energy, modernization of lighting and air conditioning systems, and raising awareness among employees about sustainable practices.
These measures reinforce the hospital's commitment to prevention, not only of diseases but also of environmental risks that directly affect the health of the population. In a region like the Amazon, where rising temperatures and the proliferation of disease vectors are real challenges, HJB's actions become an example of adaptation and social responsibility.
"When we take care of the environment, we are taking care of people's health. Sustainability is an extension of our commitment to life; it is part of our daily practice and the way we see the future of health in the Amazon," emphasizes HJB's executive director, Giovani Merenda.
For the hospital, caring for the planet is also caring for people. In this sense, Jean Bitar positions itself as a pioneering institution in the integration of health, sustainability, and citizenship, a model of a hospital that prepares today to ensure the right to life and well-being for future generations.
Retiree João Rodrigues Araújo, 77, a resident of Belém who accompanies his wife undergoing treatment at HJB, highlighted the importance of a hospital committed to the environment:
"The care here is excellent; my wife has been receiving treatment for quite some time, and we are always well received. Knowing that the hospital also cares about the environment, recycling, and not polluting makes us even more confident in the work they do," João said.
From January to October of this year, the unit totaled 424,423 relevant attendances, maintaining a user satisfaction rate above 90% in the last month. Among the main services provided during this period, 60,203 medical and non-medical outpatient attendances, 2,738 hospitalizations, 3,193 surgeries, 348,540 general exams, and 9,749 multiprofessional sessions stand out.
Service:
Hospital Jean Bitar belongs to the public health network of the Pará government and is managed by the National Institute of Social and Human Development (INDSH), in partnership with the State Department of Public Health (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 patients with metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases. The unit is located at Rua Cônego Jerônimo Pimentel, No. 543, in the Umarizal neighborhood, in Belém. The article can be accessed here.
Text by Marcelo Zeno / Ascom HJB
