The purpose of the study is to describe and analyze the Health Counselors' social representations about the Sanitary Surveillance theme. The social representation qualitative research was the adopted methodology, and the technique of partially structured interviews was used. Data obtained from the interviews were analyzed by means of the Discourse of the Collective Subject. Through the discourses, the Health Counselors demonstrated their knowledge about Sanitary Surveillance and their recognition of its importance for the Public Health practices. In addition, they demonstrated their aptitude for participating in the process of developing the Municipal Sanitary Surveillance Policy. The study concludes that Sanitary Surveillance, especially at the local level, needs to appropriate the cities' Health Councils as public spaces that can legitimate and give transparency to its actions, democratically discussing the needs of the community. Thus, we have the opportunity to build citizenship while ensuring the right to health protection.
Sanitary Surveillance; Social Participation; Health Councils