The area including the Xingu* and the Trans-Amazonian highway, in the state of Pará, is currently facing alarming rates of infection and death due to COVID-19, only comparable to those reached at the peak of the pandemic in 2020 and which, if ignored, could cause the health system to collapse. In Altamira, the biggest city in the region, 7,000 cases were confirmed as well as 145 deaths. Across the region, more than 300 deaths have been registered, and the numbers continue to rise.
According to the city’s Department of Healthcare, the incidence of cases in the Xingu area surpasses the average of Pará state as a whole and is also above the national average. Altamira’s two hospitals provide health care for an estimated population of 354,000** people in the area, and only one of them can handle high complexity cases. The city also receives Indigenous and Riverine people from 11 Indigenous Lands and 7 Conservation Units.
To make matters worse, there is an increasing number of social gatherings taking place, the city’s stores are open, and the public authorities have been failing to prevent crowdings, in spite of the fact that social distancing is still the only way to contain the spread of the disease. There is also false information on early treatments and remedies that can’t actually cure the disease. The vaccine, safe and effective, has already arrived in Xingu for some of the Indigenous peoples and for the health care workers who are fighting COVID-19. However, Brazil will only reach immunisation when the entire population is vaccinated. This is not expected to happen quickly.
Moreover, the region still hasn’t healed the wounds of the Belo Monte Dam’s construction, which left behind innumerable violations of the population’s human rights and environmental degradation. Altamira is one of the most violent cities in the country, and this has only been aggravated by the spread of COVID-19. We can’t allow the uncontrolled pandemic to open yet another wound.
We will not stand idly by while the horror settles in. We must not follow the example of other cities where, unfortunately, people are dying from the lack of oxygen in the hospitals. We cannot suffocate in the heart of the Amazon. That is why we created the Respira Xingu (Breathe Xingu) campaign: to gather different voices, proposals and donations to fight for this cause. We urgently need to mobilize and pressure the government to fulfill its constitutional duty of guaranteeing access to healthcare as well as to immediately comply with the protocols determined by the World Health Organization for this pandemic. Otherwise, it will be responsible and accountable for otherwise preventable deaths. Breathe Xingu!
* * Includes the cities of Altamira, Anapu, Brasil Novo, Medicilândia, Pacajá, Porto de Moz, Senador José Porfírio, Uruará e Vitória do Xingu.
** According to IBGE data, the nine cities situated in the Middle Xingu have 353,943 inhabitants. However, this figure does not consider the recent migration influxes that has increased the number of people living in this region.
Sign this manifesto:
Manifesto
action
01. education
Social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing our hands remain the best ways to prevent the virus from spreading. We have created educational materials to raise awareness on these effective and necessary measures.
02. Accountability
The City of Altamira needs to take urgent action to prevent crowdings, suspend events, and establish clear rules for essential and nonessential activities and services - a necessary measure to prevent more deaths.
03. information
Information is critical, and it has not been reaching the population clearly. With support from healthcare professionals, we will disclose weekly bulletins with unified data from the region.
04. donations
There is a severe shortage of supplies in hospitals, and several families in the region are seriously vulnerable. We will promote, organize, and distribute donations.
05. memory
People who died due to COVID-19 are not numbers - they were our friends, family, schoolmates, neighbours. They had affections, loves and dreams. Here, we will honour their stories.
share
Help us spread our message! Find below our promotional materials and share Respira Xingu through out your network.
Covid-19 xingu* report
* Altamira, Anapu, Brasil Novo, Medicilândia, Pacajá, Porto de Moz, Sen. J. Porfírio, Uruará e Vitória do Xingu
Last update June 11th at 10PM
Cases in the last 24h:
102
Deaths in the last 24h:
00
HRPT** occupancy rate:
76%
Total cases:
28.022
Total deaths:
624
** Beds and ICU vacancies dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19 at the Regional Public Hospital of Transamazônica
Sources: Municipal Department of Healthcare / Pará State Department of Health. Cases and deaths by date of confirmation
Daily report elaborated by the COVID-19 Epidemiological Monitoring Group of the Medical School of UFPA, Altamira Campus
donate
Weekly, we will use this space to disclose the needs of our region. Respira Xingu is committed to connect donors and beneficiaries.
What we need now:
500 Basic-needs grocery packages
For families in economic vulnerability
To produce 300 T-shirts, 10,000 stickers, 500 posters, 50 billboards and 500 hours of sound car to promote campaign messages through the neighborhoods
01 oxygen plant
Oxygen plant with capacity of 50m³ / hour
promotion budget
1. Financial donations
Two organizations that signed this campaign are available to receive financial donations, manage the resources and report each investment at this website. Meet the organizations:
Coletivo de mulheres do xingu
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Xingu Women’s Collective is a non-profit organization that fights for public policies and social defense of black, indigeneous, riverine and urban women and girls from Transamazônica and Xingu area.
Coletivo de Mulheres do Xingu
CNPJ: 36.933.302/0001-60
Bank: Caixa Econômica Federal
Agency: 0551 003 | Account: 3216-7
PIX: 36.933.302/0001-60 (CNPJ)
Daniela Soares da Silva • Executive Secretary
Eneida de Almeida Melo • Administration and Finance Secretary
+55 (93) 9238-6232 | coletivodemulheresdoxingu@gmail.com
Associação de Moradores da Resex do Rio Iriri: AMORERI
The Residents Association from the Rio Iriri Reserve created this non-profit organization that unites 15 indigenous groups and riverines. They are responsible for the brand “Vem do Xingu”. Besides promoting the production and fighting for the rights of the local population, the organization has also been fighting against COVID-19 pandemic effects.
Associação dos Moradores da Resex Rio Iriri - Amoreri
CNPJ: 08.395.946/0001-06
Bank: Caixa Economica Federal
Agency: 0551 | Account: 6075-3
Francinaldo Lima (Naldo) • Technical Advisor
Benônimo Miranda • Finance Coordinator
+55 (93) 99127-0222 | amorerifinanceiro@gmail.com
2. International donations
For international donations, click the link below and make a single donation to Health in Harmony. Please identify the campaign "Respira Xingu"in the field "notes".
100% of the funds will be transferred to the organizations that responds for the financial management of the campaign in Brazil.