Storm Kristin damaged the facility where tuberculosis care is provided in Leiria. Today, the service operates without proper conditions! Help us rebuild this essential space to protect everyone's health.
When we talk about tuberculosis, we're talking about a disease that many believe is a thing of the past – but which remains very present in Portugal. Every day, there are people who depend on early diagnosis, close monitoring, and rigorous treatment to prevent this disease from spreading.
In our community, this work is ensured by the Community Respiratory Consultations (CRC B) of the ULS RL - Local Health Unit of the Leiria Region. It is here that cases are tracked, patients are monitored, and the entire population is protected. It is a silent service, but absolutely essential for public health.
On January 28, 2026, everything changed.
Storm Kristin caused severe damage to the building where this service operated, making it unsafe and forcing the immediate interruption of activity. Since then, the team has been doing everything possible – and impossible – to continue caring for people in a temporary space that does not meet the necessary conditions.
Today, this service operates thanks to a temporary mobilization of resources, in a limited underground space, without the capacity to guarantee all the responses that the population needs. These limitations directly affect timely diagnosis, patient follow-up, and disease control. And when we talk about tuberculosis, every delay can mean more transmission, more cases, more risk for everyone.
The original building remains damaged: compromised roofs, broken windows, leaks, and destroyed structures. Without intervention, it is impossible to return to a safe and functional space.
But there is a solution – and it involves all of us.
With your support, it will be possible to restore this space and return an essential service to the community. A space where professionals can work safely and where everyone has access to the care they need.
By contributing to this campaign, you are not just supporting a cause. You are helping to stop the spread of a disease, protect lives, and strengthen the public health of your community.
Help us rebuild this essential service. Contribute and be part of the solution.
About the author
The Local Health Unit of the Leiria Region exists with a clear purpose: to bring healthcare closer to the people and ensure more integrated, accessible, and high-quality responses to the community.
But more than a structure, we are people caring for people.
Every day, through the Community Respiratory Consultations (CRC B), we work directly on the ground to control a disease that continues to be a real challenge – tuberculosis. We support those who need it most, often in situations of greater vulnerability, ensuring close, humane, and continuous diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
In 2025, we monitored more than 500 patients, with dozens of cases of active and latent tuberculosis. Behind these numbers are real stories – people who managed to treat themselves, recover, and resume their lives. Our commitment translates into results: a therapeutic success rate of 99.99%.
This work is only possible thanks to a dedicated multidisciplinary team – doctors, nurses and technicians – working in coordination with various health structures and community entities. Together, we ensure that no one is left behind.
We work especially with the most vulnerable populations, where the risk is higher and access to care can be more difficult. That's where we make a difference – through close contact, knowledge, and commitment.
It is this experience, this dedication, and this real impact on people's lives that we bring to this campaign.
Budget and due dates
The total estimated cost for the building's rehabilitation is €560,956 , including all necessary phases, from project development to construction.
The investment is divided into three main components:
1. Architectural and specialty projects – €11,000
These include the development of the preliminary study and the execution project, which are fundamental for technically defining the intervention and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations for a healthcare building.
2. Preparatory works and demolitions – €50,700
These include the installation of a construction site, safety measures, waste management, cleaning and demolition of damaged structures, an essential step in preparing the building for intervention.
3. Construction and rehabilitation works – €499,256
This includes all the necessary interventions to rebuild and equip the space, namely:
- Reconstruction of the roof and structure;
- Replacement of openings (windows and doors) and facades;
- Construction of walls, floors and coverings;
- Installation of water, sewage, ventilation and electricity networks;
- Sanitary equipment and essential furniture;
- Exterior arrangements and restoration of safety conditions.
These interventions are essential to ensure that the building meets the technical requirements for a service that cares for patients with transmissible infectious diseases.
Implementation schedule
The project execution is organized into several phases, with an estimated overall duration of approximately 17 months:
- Design phase (preliminary study and execution project): Technical development of the rehabilitation solution – 5 months;
- Public tender phase: Procedure for awarding the contract – 3 months;
- Construction phase (contract): Execution of demolition, construction and rehabilitation work on the building – 9 months.
The intervention will be progressive, beginning with preparatory work and progressing to structural reconstruction and subsequent installation of infrastructure and finishes, until full operational capacity is restored.
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