[ I have removed a notice about an event organized for 7 September by
the Catholic Church entitled "Shout of the Socially Marginalized"
with the topic "Work and Land to Live in" because that date is past.
The announcement for the event said: "The objective of the 'Shout'
is to redeem the true sense of independence and draw the attention
of the public to the social injustice that prevails in Brazilian
society." --Gary ]
INDIANS DENOUNCE LACK OF HEALTH CARE
There is a war strategy against indigenous peoples in Brazil. This is
what Wilson Pataxo, representative of the Articulation of Indigenous
Organizations of the Northeast, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo - APOINME,
denounced at a round table on the quality of life of indigenous peoples
during the 10th National Health Conference. The event is taking place this
week in Brasilia. The round table gathered representatives of various
health institutions. In addition to Wilson Pataxo, the meeting was
attended by Clovis Ambrosio, from the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR),
who highlighted the importance of the work being carried out by indigenous
health agents.
Wilson Pataxo denounced that the lack of health care is "a powerful
weapon to eliminate Brazilian indigenous peoples." Of each 100 Indians who
died in the period between September 1994 and December 1995, 22.3% did not
have any medical assistance. In this period, 2,591 Indians died, and no
diagnosis is available for 579 of them. According to Ana Costa, director
of Funai's health care department, these deaths were caused by the
insufficiency of funds allocated to the sector. Last year, the agency
invested US$ 20 for each of the 334 thousand Brazilian Indians. The
participants in the panel unanimously called for the holding of the 3rd
National Conference on Indigenous Health and the implementation of the
Special Indigenous Sanitary Districts throughout the country.
Brasilia, 6 September 1996
Indianist Missionary Council - CIMI