With the inauguration of the new Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station, Fiocruz has now a permanent laboratory on the continent. Fiolab is a biosafety laboratory prepared to respond to the country's epidemiological and sanitary surveillance needs, and to support research in health and the environment in Antarctica. The Foundation started its research on the continent last year.
Fiocruz is the leading institution in Brazil on tracking the virus situation. Although the country does not have a confirmed case yet, the institution has the first laboratory in South America prepared to identify Covid-19. In partnership with PAHO, Fiocruz promoted a training to health technicians from nine countries in Latin America to perform laboratory diagnosis of the virus.
João Aprígio is coordinator of the Global Network of Human Milk Banks and has been promoting breastfeeding in Brazil and abroad since 1998, contributing to reducing child mortality rates. He will receive the Dr. Lee Jong-wook Public Health award in May, during the World Health Assembly.
