Content area
Full text
INTRODUCTION
The object of study is the creation and implementation of the Nursing School of the State of Rio de Janeiro (EEERJ), currently called Aurora de Afonso Costa Nursing School of the Fluminense Federal University (Escola de Enfermagem Aurora de Afonso Costa da Universidade Federal Fluminense, EEAAC-UFF). The time frame comprises the period from 1943 to 1945, marked by the year in which a group of North American nurses from the Nursing Division of the Special Public Health Service (SPHS) completed the report on the evaluation of health conditions in the cities belonging to the state of Rio de Janeiro: Niterói, Campos dos Goytacazes, and Petrópolis, with a view to selecting the location for the installation of a nursing school (the city of Niterói, then federal district and capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro being indicated); and the year corresponds to the inaugural class of EEERJ, on February 1st, 1945.
The political context includes the dictatorial regime of the New State (1937-1945) implemented by President Getúlio Vargas. At the international level, the entry of the USA into the World War II in 1941 contributed to increase the importance of Brazil as an ally due to its geographical position, providing naval and air bases for the supply of American planes and anti-submarine naval base(1).
In exchange, agreements were signed between these two nations, culminating in the creation of the Special Public Health Service (SESP), on July 17th,1942, which had technical and financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation and from the Institute of Inter-American Affairs (IIAA). It was up to the SESP to guarantee sanitary conditions in Amazonas, and later in Vale do Rio Doce, to expand the production of raw materials for military purposes, such as rubber and minerals. In addition, the preparation of professionals for public health work and collaboration with the National Leprosy Service(2).
Regarding the training of professionals, in October 1942, nurse Mary Elizabeth Tennant, from the Rockfeller Foundation, came to Brazil to carry out a reconnaissance on Brazilian nursing, with a view to analyzing the value of the education imparted in the existing Nursing schools and of the number of nurses who could be trained. The report identified approximately 400 nurses working in the country, an insufficient number to meet...