Ana Maria de Arruda Camargo
Social worker. Master’s degree in social work from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, Brazil. Doctor of gerontology in the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM), State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil.
Her study, research, and publication topics include: social control of patients at the Clinical Hospital UNICAMP, Brazil; treatment of the elderly in primary healthcare in Campinas: access to care; Chagas and work in an urban environment; civil associations and the guarantee of rights to healthcare: experience in a group of patients with Chagas disease; and challenges and perspectives in the organization of healthcare for the elderly population in primary care: a literature review. She works at the Clinical Hospital UNICAMP treating patients in the Chagas disease outpatient clinic.
She is a member of the UNICAMP group that performs studies related to Chagas disease. She is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Association of Carriers of Chagas Disease in Campinas and Surrounding Region (ACCAMP) and of the advisory council of the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS).
She is responsible for social assistance and is part of the health team that treats patients in the geriatric clinic.
Ana coordinates the health education group Flower of Old Age (Flor da Terceira Idade). She is the director of the Social Service, Health, and Aging Improvement Program at FCM/UNICAMP.
She gave a class via distance learning called “Health and Aging in the Older Adult” for the Osvaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ).
Ana has also taught classes at various university departments of social services: Faculty Saint Lucia in Mogi Mirim, Dom Bosco Salesian Faculty in Manaus, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas. She prepares and contributes to the organization of educational and informative activities and materials related to Chagas disease, neglected tropical diseases, right to healthcare, and aging.
In addition, she participates in, organizes, and coordinates events, discussion forums, and seminars related to those topics. She works on these issues in workshops, classes, and conversation circles. Ana contributes to the increase of social and political participation in organized society, such as associations of people that live with Chagas disease, to make changes in legislation at the municipal level. These changes include laws related to the celebration of Municipal Chagas Disease Day, Municipal Neglected Diseases Awareness Week, and the national law of neglected diseases in Brazil.