According to official data, energy supply restrictions are primarily affecting the Maternal and Child Health Program, limiting pregnant women’s access to obstetric ultrasounds for fetal monitoring and genetic testing, essential for the timely diagnosis of malformations and complications.
The fuel shortage is also hindering the mobilization of medical teams responsible for evaluating cases of extremely severe maternal morbidity and critical newborns, in addition to causing delays in childhood vaccination schedules.
Health authorities indicated that these disruptions could significantly impact the 61,830 children under one year old who require special care during their first stage of life. Furthermore, care for children with specific needs, such as home ventilation, mechanical suction, and air conditioning, is jeopardized due to the unstable electricity supply and the limited availability of ambulances for urgent and emergency situations.