The newly established Field Hospital in Ubá opened on Monday, March 9, to provide urgent medical assistance to residents who were affected by severe flooding that closed the local Municipal Polyclinic. This facility is intended as a temporary solution as the Polyclinic was rendered inoperable due to inundation from the heavy rains which resulted in tragic consequences, including seven fatalities and numerous individuals displaced or left homeless. One person remains missing after the disaster.

The temporary Field Hospital is designed to accommodate outpatient consultations and treatments that were previously handled at the Polyclinic. Local authorities have confirmed that additional services will be rolled out throughout the week to further assist the healthcare needs of the affected population. However, the duration for which the Field Hospital will remain operational and the timeline for the reopening of the Municipal Polyclinic remain uncertain, causing concern among residents regarding their access to essential health services.

Field Hospitals like the one in Ubá are temporary medical structures deployed in emergency situations, enabling healthcare access when regular facilities are unable to meet demand or are damaged. The establishment of this Field Hospital highlights the local government’s response to the crisis and emphasizes the ongoing need for emergency preparedness in the face of natural disasters, especially considering the severe impact on community health facilities and the essential services they provide.