Speech therapy activities in university extension: international experiences in the Brazilian Amazon, Poland and Kenya
2Institute of Health Professions, Mass Hospital General, EUA
3Department of Public Health - FOB/USP, University of São Paulo, Brazil, Brazil
4Speech-language pathologist and audiologist - FOB/USP, University of SãoPaulo, Brazil, Brazil
5School of Medicine - Bauru/SP, University of São paulo, Brazil, Brazil
6Departament of Public Health - FOB/USP, University of São Paulo, Brazil, Brazil
The public university in Brazil, based on its tripod of teaching, research and extension, develops immediate actions aimed at the present moment and also collaborates in the planning of future perspectives, promoting the development of training for local communities and their health professionals, seeking to create a lasting impact, aiming to fill the gaps in public health services. The internationalisation of outreach activities is one of the goals of the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and is based on a 23-year experience of actions carried out in Brazil, in the region of the legal Amazon. This international work was carried out in two different countries. The first was in Kenya, in partnership with Entepesi Kenia (EK) and the Kenyan Ministry of Health, in the municipality of Oloitokitok, close to the border with Tanzania, providing services to the urban and rural population. The team was made up of seven professionals: three speech therapists, two doctors and two dentists. The aim of the first intervention was to carry out epidemiological surveys, as well as health education on topics requested by the community, thus meeting free demand. Medical appointments were also made with ENT doctors and general practitioners. Speech and hearing therapy carried out hearing tests and dentistry carried out tooth extractions and prophylaxis. The second international event took place in Krakow, Poland, organised by the Northern Illinois University Heart of Hearing Humanitarian. The aim was to help refugees from the war in Ukraine. This action involved a team of 11 speech therapists and/or speech therapy students and 2 local translators. 44 patients were seen in audiology and more than 300 schoolchildren had their hearing screened. In audiology, patients and their families were given hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings and guidance on their use and hearing health. From THESE experiences, it can be concluded that further actions are needed for under-served populations, strengthening local health services, as well as their staff and the population assisted, as well as the exchange of international experiences, which is extremely important in public health.