Performance of a municipal health secretariat in the face of the oil disaster-crime in Pernambuco

Abstract

The oil disaster-crime in 2019 is considered the largest disaster to occur on the coast of Brazil. Considered the front line in disaster response, municipal health management is crucial in the disaster risk management process. The objective was to analyze the performance of a municipal health department in the metropolitan region of Recife, Pernambuco, regarding the oil spill that occurred in 2019. A descriptive case study with a qualitative approach was conducted. Content Analysis was performed using the Iramuteq software on interviews with health managers, and the results revealed four categories: municipal management in marine care; disaster risk governance and its absences; the syndemic of Covid-19 and its impacts on the rehabilitation and recovery of communities affected by the oil disaster; what to do if a disaster occurs again. In the focus municipality, there was early organization of response actions, the absence of governance in the disaster-crime, and a focus on Covid-19 syndemic by health management, which were identified as difficulties and vulnerabilities in their actions, while continuous education and coordination with fishermen and shellfish gatherers were among the lessons learned.