Continuing education in healthcare as a strategy for occupational safety in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: reflections on the role of community healthcare agents in construction of care.

Community healthcare agents are strategic professionals in delivery of Primary Healthcare activities. This article reflects on the role of continuing education in healthcare as a strategic element in ensuring the occupational health of community healthcare agents faced with combating and managing coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19). In the current scenario, the work of community healthcare agents is undergoing daily reconstruction of professional practice in order to keep pace with the living territories to which they are assigned. Continuing education in healthcare enables construction of feasible scenarios that make problem solving possible, involving a constant reflective analytical perception of professional practices, permitting (re)construction of social skills such as the capacity to mobilize and motivate other actors to participate in political action. Through problematization, identification of needs, and questioning, continuing education in healthcare leads to (de)construction of the working practices of the very actors who are delivering care. Furthermore, continuing education in healthcare reaffirms the importance of the social, technical, and political training of community healthcare agents, thereby confirming their right to dignified and quality work. In a pandemic scenario, an agenda focused on continuing education in healthcare is essential to the continuity of care delivery to communities, facilitating expansion of access to the right to health.

Agentes Comunitários de Saúde frente à COVID-19: Vivências junto aos profissionais de enfermagem

Objetivo: Descrever a experiência vivenciada por enfermeiras em conexão com Agentes comunitários de saúde para enfrentamento local da pandemia COVID-19. Método: Relato de experiência desenvolvido a partir de ações de enfermeiras que atuam na Estratégia Saúde da Família do município de Icó, Estado do Ceará, destacando o importante papel que os Agentes comunitários de saúde desenvolvem junto à população nesse cenário. Resultados: A partir da experiência vivenciada, pode-se observar o importante papel que os Agentes Comunitários de Saúde têm apresentando frente à pandemia da COVD-19, mesmo apresentando medo e insegurança. Evidenciou-se ainda durante esse período que seu papel de educador em saúde é imprescindível nas ações desenvolvidas dentro dos territórios. Além disso, esses profissionais têm sido protagonistas importantes nas atividades realizadas dentro das Estratégias de Saúde da Família, fortalecendo assim o trabalho da equipe bem como o controle e combate da infecção pelo novo Coronavírus. Conclusões: Contar com o trabalho desses profissionais nos territórios tem sido estratégico e representa um diferencial para o cuidado, por auxiliarem no controle da disseminação e no monitoramento de grupos de risco, bem como das pessoas infectadas pela doença. (AU) Objective: To describe the experience lived by nurses in connection with community health workers to face the pandemic COVID-19 locally. Method: Experience report developed from the actions of nurses working in the Family Health Strategy in the municipality of Icó, State of Ceará, highlighting the important role that community health agents play with the population in this scenario. Results: Based on the experience, it is possible to observe the important role that Community Health Agents have playing in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, even with fear and insecurity. It was also evident during this period that his role as a health educator is essential in the actions developed within the territories. In addition, these professionals have been important protagonists in the activities carried out within the Family Health Strategies, thus strengthening the team's work as well as controlling and fighting infection by the new Coronavirus. Conclusions: Counting on the work of these professionals in the territories has been strategic and represents a differential for care, as they help in controlling the dissemination and monitoring at-risk groups, as well as people infected by the disease. (AU) Objetivo: Describir la experiencia vivida por las enfermeras en relación con los trabajadores de salud de la comunidad para enfrentar la pandemia COVID-19. Método: Informe de experiencia desarrollado a partir de las acciones de enfermeras que trabajan en la Estrategia de Salud de la Familia en el municipio de Icó, Estado de Ceará, destacando el importante papel que los trabajadores de salud comunitarios juegan con la población en este escenario. Resultados: En base a la experiencia, es posible observar el importante papel que los agentes de salud comunitarios tienen ante la pandemia da COVID-19, incluso con miedo e inseguridad. También fue evidente durante este período que su papel como educador de salud es esencial en las acciones desarrolladas dentro de los territorios. Además, estos profesionales han sido protagonistas importantes en las actividades llevadas a cabo dentro de las Estrategias de salud familiar, fortaleciendo así el trabajo del equipo y controlando y luchando contra la infección por el nuevo Coronavirus. Conclusiones: contar con el trabajo de estos profesionales en los territorios ha sido estratégico y representa un diferencial para la atención, ya que ayudan a controlar la difusión y el monitoreo de los grupos en riesgo, así como a las personas infectadas por la enfermedad. (AU)