Porto Itapoá makes emergency investments in health infrastructure in the region and in the municipality to combat the pandemic.

At the regional level, the Terminal supported the renovation of one of the wings of Hospital São José. For the municipality of Itapoá, the company has already ordered two respirators to be installed at the 24-hour Emergency Unit by the month of October. Expansion of the unit is also in the project phase to be implemented in 2020
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Terminal sought to understand how the municipality of Itapoá, and the region as a whole, would face the pandemic at its peak and which it would be the condition of infrastructure offered to the population. Due to the size of the municipality and, according to the protocols defined by health authorities, it was observed that Joinville’s regional hospitals would concentrate the largest number of consultations in the State, including practically all patients from Itapoá. In this sense, there was a planning oriented to provide the first service in Itapoá with security and adequate infrastructure and, in parallel to the expansion of the service capacity in the Joinville hospital units.
From this scenario Porto Itapoá joined the initiative of Joinville entrepreneurs, organized at ACIJ (Joinville Business Association), to financially support the expansion of one of the wings of the São José Municipal Hospital – which received the name Ala Porto Itapoá. The institution is a reference in hospital care by SUS in the region, which has an estimated population of 800 thousand people. This support will expand the hospital’s service capacity for the still growing number of COVID-19 cases, aiming not to compromise the treatment of other illnesses that need to be treated on site.
In Itapoá, specifically, the Terminal is working on project to adapt and expand the pre-hospital infrastructure. The investment was initially directed at works to adapt the transfer area of ​​patients (helipad) of medium and high complexity that require transportation to hospital units with greater capacity for medical care. However, the object of the project needed to be changed and the investment should be reverted to expand the internal structure of the Emergency Care Unit (UPA), such as the serology and ambulatory rooms.
Another action, initiated in May, was the purchase of two artificial respirators that will be directed to the Itapoá UPA. The initiative was carried out in partnership with ACIJ and FIESC (Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina). The forecast is that this equipment will arrive in the municipality in October. “We consider it of utmost importance to be part of this effort so that Itapoá overcomes this pandemic with preserved lives”, says the president of Porto Itapoá, Cássio José Schreiner.
Added the three initiatives: adaptation of the first service in Itapoá, expansion of service capacity of Hospital São José and the purchase of respirators for the municipality of Itapoá, the Porto Itapoá board believes that it can mitigate the logistical difficulties and supply of capacity at this time of pandemic, in a special way to the citizens of Itapo. > In all, investments reach the mark of R $ 1.5 million. These investments also include donations to the Itapoá Health area. The Terminal had already donated masks and PPE to the population and health professionals in the municipality, distributed alcohol in gel and acquired another ambulance to assist employees, third parties and drivers who access Porto. In June, it acquired kits for rapid testing for COVID-19 that were applied to people who are part of the city’s priority publics for free. The objective of the tests donated by Porto Itapoá is to protect the elderly who are part of the risk group and also the professionals who work in Health, Safety and Rescue.
Economic incentive campaign for local commerce
As part of celebrations for the 9th anniversary, Porto Itapoá carried out a campaign to present its employees and, at the same time, to value local commerce. The objective is to promote an economic incentive to retail and service entrepreneurs in Itapoá in this pandemic moment.
Each employee who lives in Itapoá received a voucher referring to the Terminal’s anniversary for online purchase through the delivery application TôPedindo. The amount can only be used in establishments in Itapoá that are duly registered. In the partnership between Porto Itapoá and the app, a startup in Criciúma, the agreement allowed an initial period without charging fees for participating businesses. The initiative to bring the application to Itapoá came from the Municipal Economic Development Secretariat and was supported and publicized by ACINI (Associação Empresarial de Itapoá) and CDL (Chamber of Shopkeepers).
Traders and service providers Itapoá service have already joined in large numbers the opportunity to move their trade. There are already more than 75 establishments registered in the application, including markets, bars, restaurants, convenience stores, bakeries, pastry shops, clothing stores, accessories, cosmetics, toys and gifts, handicrafts, florists, pharmacies, beauty salons and services in general. This incentive from Porto Itapoá is promoting an important movement to local commerce in these months of social isolation caused by the pandemic. But with the convenience of online shopping and delivery by delivery, business generation driven by this initiative is expected to extend exponentially.