Popular Education in times of COVID-19: political-pedagogical resignification in the promotion of the right to health

Abstract

In Brazil, we can say that the field of Popular Education in Health (HPS) has been constituted from a political-pedagogical movement that associates training practices, participation, management and popular health care, based on the articulation between the actions of various segments and social movements. In this article, we reflect on the importance of HPS considering the knowledge and health practices of the most vulnerable popular layers to intervene in the production process of health services, with a view to meeting social needs and building with the neediest population and health agents. We aim to enable the understanding that health problems are not only associated with the absence of disease, but also involve living conditions (housing, food, leisure, access to goods and services, among others). This debate is justified by the contribution to a broader understanding of what health is and what health promotion and disease prevention are about.  We sought grounding through authors such as Paulo Freire and Victor Valla, among others, presenting reflections on the importance of Popular Education in Health (EPS) for the approximation between formal health agents and the population, also covering the difficulties faced in the recent crisis triggered by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the robust social inequalities of the country. We conclude that the promotion of public policies for social protection and the preservation and strengthening of the Unified Health System (SUS) are essential to support future demands and to be able to care for everyone with greater equity.