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City Hall reopens UPA Costa Barros after pause in services
Published on 27/10/2025 - 14:51 | Updated on 27/10/2025 - 14:56
In recent days, the Health Department has made a series of improvements to the unit - Cícero Sydronio/RioSaúde Rio de Janeiro City Hall reopened the UPA Costa Barros on Monday (27), at 7 am, after almost a month of interruption in services due to episodes of violence in the region. The unit was invaded by armed criminals in the early hours of September 30, when two patients who were hospitalized were kidnapped, professionals and users were impacted by the lack of security at the unit. The CMS Portus e Quitanda, which had been closed for more than three months, also resumed services this Monday, in its original facilities.
The Municipal Health Department (SMS) has urged state security forces to take measures to ensure the safe operation of health services in the region. Secretary Daniel Soranz oversaw the reopening of the units this Monday.
– The Costa Barros UPA reopens today, fully renovated, with new air conditioning, furniture, and equipment to better serve the population of Costa Barros. We wanted to open the unit from the outset, but unfortunately, due to security concerns, it became unfeasible. We hope that security forces will maintain their occupation of the area to ensure the safety of patients and staff. It is an essential unit for the region and the community and cannot be closed again.
In recent days, SMS has made a series of improvements to the unit, including the installation of new internal and external monitoring cameras, equipment overhauls, replacement of supplies with near expiration dates, and minor structural repairs.
The Costa Barros UPA is one of the health units most affected by violence in Rio. In addition to the invasion in September, a doctor's vehicle was hit by gunfire in front of the unit, and an ambulance carrying health professionals had already been hijacked. The unit serves an average of 350 people per day, totaling approximately 10,5 per month.
The City Hall has repeatedly requested that the State Government reinforce security at health facilities located in conflict zones. In 2025 alone, more than 800 family clinics and municipal health centers were closed due to armed conflicts.
CMS Portus and Quitanda returns to its own facilities
The Portus and Quitanda Municipal Health Centers in Costa Barros also reopened this Monday. The unit's building, located near the Costa Barros UPA (Emergency Care Unit), located at Rua Jorge Nogueira, S/N, was closed on July 25th due to insecurity. The CMS team had been providing care at the Costa Barros UPA since then, but the violence on September 30th ended up shutting down both units.
This Monday, the Portus e Quitanda CMS returned to its original location after police forces in the community committed to removing the barricades that blocked the access of ambulances, patients, and professionals to the facility. The facility has three family health teams and serves a region of just over 14 inhabitants.
"We hope this unit will be respected and there will be no further need for closure or interruption of services in the region. With the commitment made by security forces to ensure the safety of the population, we expect patients and professionals to finally be able to access the unit without risk," Soranz stated.
