Friday morning (25) was a time of celebration in the auditorium of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) at Unicamp. The closing ceremony of the training cycle for 50 Angolan doctors in the 3rd year of the General Family Health Program marks the end of a training journey that began in May, the result of international cooperation consolidated for more than two decades between the university, the City of Campinas and the Ministry of Health of Angola, with the support of the Brazilian Ministry of Health.
"These were months of intense learning that will certainly be important for the strengthening and maturation of Angola's healthcare system. We recognize in the formation of the Brazilian people, in their Blackness, in their cultural expressions, and in capoeira de Angola, the symbol of community and unity," declared the class valedictorian, Laurentina Teresa da Silva. In her speech, Silva highlighted the welcome she received in Brazil and the impact of her experience in the Unified Health System (SUS), also recalling Brazil's historic gesture of being the first country to recognize Angola's independence in 1975.
The three-month program is part of the "Brazil-Angola Project: Human Resource Training for Universal Health Coverage in Angola." Since the beginning of the partnership, more than 200 Angolan doctors have completed university-linked training. The doctors participated in intensive training with 94 hours of theoretical classes and 386 hours of practical immersion at 25 Basic Health Units in Campinas, experiencing the daily routine of the Unified Health System (SUS) with a focus on primary care and the Family Health Strategy.
For Francisco Hideo Aoki, an infectious disease specialist, professor at FCM, and coordinator of the partnership with Angola, this exchange is the result of the university's long history of commitment to public health. "The public health system existed in Campinas long before the enactment of the 1988 Constitution. The city was a pioneer in structuring a health care model based on public and universal principles, which would later directly influence the creation of the Unified Health System (SUS). This history reflects the commitment of Unicamp and the municipality to a broader vision of health, guided by social justice and inclusion," he stated.
The initiative is also part of Unicamp's internationalization policy, which focuses on the Global South. Representing the university's rectorate, General Coordinator Fernando Coelho praised the participants' involvement: "I express my deep and sincere admiration for the dedication of each of you. I am certain that this will be reciprocated by the people of Angola. I am pleased to see that the university considers internationalization beyond the global North. Your experience, complemented by ours, leads to the formation of new knowledge."
Along the same lines, Rubens Bedrikow, advisor to the Provost's Office for Outreach, Sports, and Culture (PROEEC) and professor at FCM, emphasized the role of university outreach in cooperation between countries of the South. "This is one of the major goals of our university. We thank all the Angolan doctors who were willing to learn about the SUS in Campinas, exchange experiences with public health professionals, and share their knowledge, practices, and life stories. They were true ambassadors of Angola in Brazil, and they should be proud of that."
In addition to representing Proeec, Bedrikow is responsible for implementing the institutional agreement that made the training internship in Campinas possible, strengthened over the years by joint efforts between Unicamp and the Angolan Ministry of Health. The initiative has been the subject of previous reports, which highlighted Unicamp's participation on official missions in Angolan territory and the presence of Angolan doctors in basic units of the city.
The strengthening of the Angolan healthcare system was also highlighted by the project coordinator at the Angolan Ministry of Health, Job Monteiro Chilembo Jama António. According to António, professional training is a priority for President João Lourenço's government. "Since 2018, more than six thousand professionals have been hired through public competitions, increasing the healthcare workforce by 41%. The goal is to train 38 thousand professionals by 2028."
On behalf of the Brazilian government, Fabiano Ribeiro, director of the Department of Health Education Management at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the symbolic significance of the cooperation. "For us at the Ministry of Health, it is a source of great pride to contribute to this training. Brazil has a long-standing and historically reparative relationship with the countries of the African continent."
Representing the City of Campinas, pharmacist and district coordinator Deise Fregni Hadich celebrated the residents' presence at the city's units. "I congratulate everyone and emphasize how you will leave your mark on our city's history. I hope you were able to experience and feel a little of the pride we have in the SUS, with all its problems and difficulties. This opportunity for experience is truly enriching and generous."
After the speeches, the Angolan doctors presented the final projects developed from their work in Campinas' six health districts. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates of completion and a cultural performance prepared by the residents themselves, as a form of collective recognition and celebration.
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