UFSC is taking proactive measures to ensure its dental clinics continue to function properly. Dean Irineu Manoel de Souza has been personally involved in ensuring that the demands of the Department of Dentistry are met. He recognizes the importance of the clinics, which provide free services to hundreds of community members.
Students and professors of the Dentistry course have expressed their concerns about several problems, including the lack of maintenance of equipment, the hygiene of clinics, the infrastructure of the environments and the need for staff.
The Dean of Administration (Proad) is working to hire a company to maintain the clinics’ equipment. The process is ongoing and the service should be contracted soon.
Proad also instructed the management of the Health Sciences Center (CCS) to hire one of the companies that submitted a quote for the formation of prices for the ongoing tender, in order to carry out maintenance immediately. These repairs are already being carried out by the company.
Furthermore, Proad included the specialized clinic cleaning service in preparing the notice for a new cleaning contract for the entire University. The new contract is expected to be signed in the middle of the first half of 2024.
Infrastructure
Regarding the infrastructure conditions of the clinics, the University City Hall (PU) carried out inspections on October 25th and 26th, identifying small problems that did not impede operation. The PU team found that there is no structural risk in the environments (reinforced concrete slabs, pillars and beams). On the roof, signs of infiltration in the building were found. Infiltration does not prevent the use of the clinics, but will be subject to maintenance by the company contracted for building roof maintenance and waterproofing.
Problems were also found in an air conditioning electrical panel – whose maintenance will be carried out by a company contracted to maintain low voltage electrical systems – and damage to floors and ceilings. In the latter case, the PU will monitor the situation and draw up a service calendar that does not affect the clinics’ appointment schedule.
Guys
Management initiatives also include meeting personnel demands. The Dean of People Development and Management (Prodegesp) will promote a public call for dentist vacancies. The call must be announced by the end of the year, so that the professional can work in the first half of 2024. The dentist will be able to serve and guide patients at the clinics and perform dental treatments and advise on teaching, research and extension activities.
The Dean of Undergraduate and Basic Education (Prograd) authorized the hiring of four more substitute teachers for the Department of Dentistry, one with justification from the Department itself and three with justification borrowed from other Teaching Centers. With this, the Department will now have eight substitute teachers.
