Who was Victor Valla
Victor Vincent Valla was born in Los Angeles on August 8th, 1937. In 1959, he concluded his general education at Saints Edwards University, in Austin, Texas. He arrived in Brazil in 1964, right after the Military Coup, as a missionary for the catholic order ‘Irmãos de Santa Cruz’. He used to say that he came to save the souls of the third world, but was instead saved by them. Victor left the congregation and had contact with religious figures that acted in humanitarian and social causes, like Leonardo Boff and Friar Beto. He met and studied Liberation Theology and became interested in Brazil’s history. He got his masters and doctorate degree in Social History in USP (Universidade de São Paulo), naturalised brazilian and dedicated himself to study the brazilian poverty.
In 1984, encouraged by friends, realized exams to become a teacher at ENSP and achieved first place, beginning a journey that would last over 40 years of political engagement and work together with the lower class, acting directly with the poorest segments of the population, reconciling scientific knowledge with popular experience.
Later on became a researcher for the Endemias Samuel Pessoa department of ENSP, graduating generations of sanitarians and enriching the field of public health with the concepts and experience of popular education. In his fight for social causes he was one of the biggest advocate for the confrontation of social inequality in the country. He applied his knowledge in his practice and helped to build the contemporary identity of ENSP and Fiocruz.
Victor was one of the creators of the Centro de Estudos da População da Leopoldina (CEPEL), created between 1987 and 1988, considered, according to him, a brilhante moment of fusion between academic life with popular aspirations, and where he began having a closer contact with other communities.
The researcher also developed a project of civilian vigilance in ENSP, with the proposal of a collective ombudsman, in the area of Leopoldina. The ENSP team located three health centers as a reference and created missions in which it was discussed the access to food, health services, life and habitation conditions, sanitation and ways in which it was developed in order to overcome issues. Besides that, he was in the front of disciplines such as Globalization and Health, turned to the discussion of matters such as Alca, FMI, World Bank and other institutions related to brazilian health; and Popular Religiosity and Health, which was turned into a improvement course that lasted six months.
On the 9th of september, 2008, the Deliberative Council of Fiocruz unanimously approved the indication of Victor Vincent Valla to the title of professor emeritus of the Foundation. In the ENSP ceremony, he touched everyone as he thanked for the recognition of his efforts in researching about the life and work conditions of the popular classes.
In 2005 he published the book Para compreender a pobreza no Brasil (To Understand the poverty in Brazil), a selection with other authors where it is proposed a comprehension in uncomplicated terms, without losing the rigor required by the thematics complexity. In clear and accessible language, the book of the collection “A Academia e a Rua”, transposes the academic environment to the hands of who, with no expertise, worried about the social conditions in Brazil.
Valla always said that he made the rightful understandment of values and necessities of the lower classes, his reason for living.
In 2001, Victor suffered a cerebrovascular accident - CVA, which distanced him from communities but her kept on working in his office in the Endemias Samuel Pessoa department, orienting and preparing his classes. He was often seen in ceremonies and other activities organised by ENSP.
Victor Valla passed away on september 7th of 2009.
Fonte de pesquisa:
https://agencia.fiocruz.br/victor-valla
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