The Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (SBCBM) this week began a campaign to send plus size clothing to benefit the population affected by the floods that hit more than 330 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul in recent days.
The initiative arose from the demand highlighted by reporting teams and authorities involved in helping the homeless, since many of the clothing donations do not include people who wear larger sizes (above 44).
“People lost everything. We imagine the situation of those who live with obesity, who wear larger sizes, the difficulty of finding clothes that fit them when donations started arriving”, explains the president of SBCBM, Antônio Carlos Valezi.
According to a survey by SBCBM, around 70 thousand people undergo bariatric surgery in Brazil each year. These are people who lose weight and with it some of their clothes no longer fit properly.
The entity’s communication advised that patients who underwent the procedure, who lost weight by other means or who have clothes they no longer use should donate the items to the nearest post office, specifying “plus size clothes”, which facilitates the logistics of destination. of donations. The state-owned company is transporting donations free of charge, at no cost to donors.
Today, SBCBM is present with regional chapters in 22 states and the Federal District. “In addition to speaking directly with patients, SBCBM also asked associated surgeons and members of multidisciplinary teams, from north to south, to collaborate by encouraging their patients to contribute to this initiative in a large support network for gauchos”, reinforces Valezi.
Shipping drinking water
According to the Civil Defense of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the most urgent demand at the moment is drinking water. Of the six water treatment plants, only two are operating in Porto Alegre. There are more than 60 underserved neighborhoods in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. The lack of drinking water also extends to other cities in the metropolitan region.
This week, SBCBM donated more than 35.8 thousand liters of mineral water in 70.2 thousand 510ml bottles. Deliveries are scheduled to take place on Friday (10/05) and Monday (13/05) at distribution centers serving the affected region.
