Brazil: Alarming increase in spread of Covid throughout Amazon

image Fides

Source: Fides

As the Amazon region faces a second catastrophic wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bishops of Amazonas and Roraima have urgently appealed for help. A message published yesterday by the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM) reads: "In recent months, an alarming increase in the number of infections and deaths caused by Covid-19 has been observed throughout the Pan-Amazon region... This is a consequence of the "shortcomings of the health system, due to the lack of beds in hospitals, oxygen and protective equipment," the effect of poverty and social inequalities.

Around 5,000 people are recorded to have died this year in Manaus and in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, REPAM states, because of "the absence of effective public health policies."

Since March 17, 2020, in its latest weekly report, REPAM notes there have been 2,025,223 confirmed cases and 50,364 coronavirus deaths across the Pan-Amazon region, a situation that has drastically worsened in the past two months.

The Catholic Church has been the main distributer of emergency humanitarian aid, protective equipment and medical care to the poorest communities in the Amazon - which are seriously neglected by the government.

REPAM's message recognizes the effort and dedication of the Catholic Church in their work helping to alleviate the effects of the second wave of the pandemic.

The message also highlights the joint work with the Coordinator of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), to which they joined "in the realization of the 'El Grito de la Selva - Voces de la Amazonia campaign, which will be launched soon, in order to strengthen the struggle of indigenous peoples for the right to global health."

They ask governments to "spare no efforts to acquire vaccines intended for the Amazon region." as requested by Pope Francis.