Crisis scenarios like this of the new coronavirus pandemic are important for us to understand the importance of science in our daily lives. If universities and research centers are normally already an essential part of societies, now the work developed by researchers, professors and others is vital. It is in this scenario that the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) places itself as one of the protagonists in facing this troubled moment for Brazil and the World.

The video accompanying this text features a speech by the Brazilian Minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta. In it, the minister highlights and recognizes the importance and effort of UFRN and other educational and research institutions in Brazil to contain the pandemic.

In its efforts to help in this battle, the Laboratory of Technological Innovation in Health (LAIS) at UFRN has developed important actions and, above all, presented possibilities of using technologies to help health professionals and the population in general to protect themselves.

LAIS has supported several actions by the Ministry of Health, guiding public policies to confront Covid-19. These are actions that involve care for the elderly, the general population, training of health professionals, remote care of patients and epidemiology. We are doing work on several fronts. Thus, today LAIS / UFRN presents among the main centers in the country that discuss innovation in the health area.

It was in this scenario that LAIS aligned with the Public Health Secretariat of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (Sesap / RN) and the Municipal Health Departments (SMS) of cities in the Metropolitan Region of Natal actions for the use of Telehealth resources for the confrontation of Covid-19.

In addition, LAIS researchers were asked to form a committee, which aims to assist Sesap/RN and the State Government in decisions addressed at reducing the speed with which the pandemic of the new coronavirus spreads in RN.

It is thus, with easily accessible technological solutions, that LAIS through actions coordinated by the Ministry of Health and also in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will contribute to the society to win this pandemic together. More than ever, making science an instrument of love for others is necessary.

Images: TV Brasil