10/08/2020
*Translated from Portuguese:*
โSometimes I think I'm a bit of a witch - a good witch of course.โ
Meet Patrรญcia Alvarez Baptista, Manager at Fiocruz, leading the team responsible for producing the new coronavirus diagnostic kits for testing throughout Brazil.
In this critical moment of global public health emergency, the commitment of public servants like Patricia, often invisible, makes the difference. Every day she faces the fear of being infected by the virus and goes to work.
โWe are like a family of 9 women. I work with molecular diagnostic development based on technology that has also been used to confirm cases of zika, dengue and chikungunya. I evaluate all the inputs. Every lot that goes into production is done under my coordination.โ
Patriciaโs work has had a complete turnaround after the pandemic hit, but its effects have impacted her personal life too.
โMy routine and worries have changed - as a mother I am always present, often controlling. With the pandemic I had to reinvent myself as mother, woman and professional. When I go to work my son is all by himself. I leave the house repeating to myself "he is 15 years old, he will survive, he has all the structure he needs".
I sleep late thinking about work, waking up in the middle of the night worried about whether we will have good results. Before I realize it, the day dawns and everything starts again.โ
Looking at the bigger picture, Patricia takes pride in her service.
โI'm a civil servant, wearing the SUS shirt, motivated to give back to my society. If we donโt have a healthy public, we have nothing. I leave early every day to work and come back with the feeling: โmission accomplished!โ. I am proud to be SUS.
Despite everything, Patricia has found the determination to fight on.
โQuitting doesn't suit me. I say that in life "if you fall down, get right back up".โ
Patriciaโs story is one that can be seen as an inspiration for all of us. She is an example for women in science, a representative of innovation, and more than anything, a beacon of hope.
Many thanks to Patricia for sharing her story and Republica.org for coming together with us for this cause๐๐ผ(link in bio for more!)
