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Brazil: Life-saving oxygen rushed to Amazon - more urgently needed


Sister Irene Lopez

Sister Irene Lopez

Source: CAFOD

UK charity CAFOD has been part of efforts coordinated by the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) to deliver oxygen cylinders to Manaus, the capital of Brazil's Amazonas state.

Yet despite initial relief, church leaders say more help is urgently needed.

Sister Irene Lopes from the Brazilian organisation REPAM put out a request to all local congregations with sisters qualified in nursing to urgently come to smaller cities in the Amazon where many health workers are infected with COVID-19 and unable to work.

Since the first delivery of oxygen last week, local volunteers and health workers have been working round the clock to coordinate distributions of other vital items such as disposable masks and gloves, medicines, and oximeters.

"The situation experienced in the city of Manaus is an urgent call for Christians and all people sensitive to the suffering of others. You need to help," said the President of CNBB, Dom Walmor Azevedo.

Since the beginning of this year, the state of Amazonas has declared a public emergency due to the collapse of public hospitals.

According to the Health Surveillance Foundation, Amazonas has now recorded more than 6,000 deaths from COVID-19, two-thirds of which were in the capital, Manaus. This represents a 157 per cent increase in the moving average of deaths in the last 14 days.

Oxygen prices in the region have skyrocketed. At the beginning of December, an oxygen cylinder cost around 800,00 Reais (£110). Today, it costs 8,000 (£1,100) or more.

Cecilia Iorio, CAFOD's country representative for Brazil, said: "Overall, the situation is dire across Brazil. Official figures show that the number of deaths is more than 225,000 and it is estimated that nearly 9.5 million people have been infected. However, due to underreporting, these figures do not illustrate the full picture.

"The Catholic Church has been a strong voice throughout, even more so in this second wave, demanding that the federal government take responsibility, and through practical actions.

"These church leaders on the frontlines refuse to sit back and wait for people to die because of the lack of oxygen, resources and beds. Thanks to their efforts - and the support of the UK public - they can now provide some oxygen to hospitals, PPE for health workers and food baskets for families.

"They have also made provisions to help people deal with the mental health implications of this disaster, offering bereavement counselling to families, as some have lost three or four members in less than a week."

"These church leaders have incredible strength. Now they just need our support."

The "Breath of Life" campaign was coordinated by the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) with Caritas Brasileira and Caritas Manaus, alongside CAFOD, to bring oxygen to Manaus.

Find out more about CAFOD's work in Brazil at: https://cafod.org.uk/News/International-news/Coronavirus-in-Brazil

Watch three subtitled videos, including Sister Irene from the Brazilian organisation REPAM, Archbishop Dom Leonardo Steine, the Archbishop of Manaus, and Archbishop Roque Paloschi, Archbishop of Porto Velho, speaking about the situation: https://we.tl/t-ZMZBy94iSF

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