1. Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Sergio Arouca Award for Excellence in Universal Health
Care does is not given today to one person alone. The
Health Community Agents (HCA) and professionals from the
Family Healthcare Program teams (PSF) who have worked
alongside me also deserve this award. I thank them for their
unreserved support.
I serve as a representative of a collective effort to
implement these strategies that are supported by the
National Council of Health Secretaries (CONASS) and the
National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries
(CONASEMS). This council was implemented in 12 pioneer
municipalities, particularly in Campina Grande in the state of
Paraíba, which is located in the northeast region of Brazil,
where I am from. Our work there has been recognized by
the Pan American Health and Education Foundation
(PAHEF), and by the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO).
Our work has been a growing cycle of constantly seeking to
improve access to healthcare for individuals, families, and
communities in my country. It so happened that I was at the
right place at the right time when I met other dreamers like
myself. I wish to thank my friend, Dr. Halim Girade, who first
invited me to the Ministry of Health in Brasília, which was
under the administration of the late Minister Henrique
Santillo. They made it possible for me to work for our
government under former president Itamar Franco’s
administration. There I was able to extend my challenges to
the other states of our federation.

2. Today we have 240 thousand Health Community Agents, 32
thousand Family Healthcare teams, and 20 thousand oral
healthcare teams working in 5,357 Brazilian municipalities.
We have only 207 cities left before we can say that all
Brazilian families are receiving regular and caring visits by
Health Community Agents. These professionals tirelessly
seek out each individual citizen regarding their health, and
treat their diabetes, hypertension, leprosy, alcoholism,
smoking addictions, dengue, prenatal care, breastfeeding
problems, and so many other issues that still require the
backing of public policies in order to create healthy green
environments that promote peace and not violence.
As a public health nurse, I have been part of the Brazilian
Public Health Reform movement that has been active for
more than 30 years. It was there that I had the privilege of
working alongside Dr. Sérgio Arouca, a doctor who is
permanently part of the history of public healthcare in Brazil,
and must never be forgotten. I worked with Eduardo Jorge
Alves Sobrinho, also a doctor and constituent
representative. Both these men played central roles in
creating the chapter of our constitution that holds healthcare
as a right of all and the duty of the state. I am grateful to you
both, my forever teachers.
I would like to thank the directors of the Pan American
Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) for having chosen
me for this award and for having looked at my work with the
eyes of your heart.
I dedicate this Sergio Arouca Award to my young students in

3. the Collective Health Department of the Health Sciences
Faculty, and to the researchers of the Public Health Study
Nucleus from the University of Brasília where I share what
little I have learned over the last 25 years. I also dedicate it
to all present and future health professionals in my country.
I am a woman, from the northeast of Brazil, and I grew up
poor. I learned how to read at the age of 12 when I was
taken in by Mother Aurélia and the Nossa Senhora
Auxiliadora School in the municipality of Sousa. The life skills
that I carry with me until this day I learned from her, as well
as from my father, Argemiro Honorato de Sousa, and my
late mother Francisca Henrique de Lima. I dedicate this
award to my mother, for her strength, courage, and wisdom
in firmly, yet serenely confronting the arduous obstacles that
challenged her throughout her life.
She was a woman that kept her head held high and taught
us to never look back, but instead look forward, to work
continuously and with passion for the values of love and
mutual respect. She taught us how to fight for justice
(sharing our daily bread with those in need) e for freedom
(the right to come and go without running people over), and
to never dirty our hands or our hearts with lies, hate,
grudges, or malice. She taught us instead to face daily
adversities with the eyes of love and strength of spirit.
A graduate of the University of Life – my dear mother –
wherever you are, rest in peace! Know that your children
have learned what you endeavored to teach us, and
throughout my life your lessons have never been far from my
thoughts: “never give up, do not despair, fight for your

4. dreams, and always have faith in the future.” Today, it is
with this faith in the future that I continue believing that the
cause of virtue and justice are not lost. It is possible to help
open windows of opportunities so that all Brazilian families
have healthcare. This is the reason for my continuous and
impassioned work. It is also the fruit of what you, my mother,
taught me.
Thank you very much!