Health Secretary accused of racism against doctor is removed from office.

Rio Grande do Sul 247 The mayor of Santa Helena, in western Paraná, decided to remove the Secretary of Health, Terezinha Madalena Bottega, after complaints made by a doctor from the Mais Médicos Program that she had received racist comments because of her dreadlocks. The deadline for the conclusion of the investigations is 15 days.

Thatiane Santos da Silva, a 30-year-old woman from Rio Grande do Sul, reported the case to the Ministry of Health. The ministry notified the city hall to provide explanations within five days.

"As soon as I entered the room, she and her assistant said they wanted to talk to me about a problem: my hair. According to them, patients were used to a certain standard of doctors, as if they were gods, and that I might encounter difficulties because of the prejudice they might have about my hair," the doctor recalled.

Ordinance 70/2015, published in the Official Gazette of the Municipality, establishes the opening of a special inquiry for "the investigation, legal infraction and accountability, in relation to the facts concerning possible discriminatory conduct, within the scope of the Municipal Health Department".

Other side

The secretary stated, on Tuesday (24), to G1 that she did not intend to be prejudiced, but only to alert the media about the possible reaction of some patients.

"At no point did I intend to offend her. The intention was even to protect her from any potential resistance or comments from patients. It had nothing to do with skin color or race; it was about her dreadlocks, because of the look and the different smell that, in a closed room, it gives off," he said.

"The conversation with her was calm. She replied that she was prepared because she was an activist, Black, and a woman, and that she wouldn't change her style. At the time, I apologized and didn't imagine it would have this much repercussion. I shouldn't have made the comment," he added.