• Already 17 Xavante die this year with failing healthcare in Mato Grosso
  
• Federal Police investigate murder attempt on Potiguara Cacique in Paraiba

 

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FAILING HEALTH CARE KILLS 17 XAVANTE IN TWO MONTHS

 

Between January and February 2009 17 Xavante died, 14 of them children, in the indigenous land Parabubure, near the city of Campinápolis, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brasil. According to Cimi missionaries, the deaths occurred due to serious failures in the health care of the indigenous people. The lack of transport for prevention work and transport of patients is one of the grave deficiencies in health assistance in the region.

 

Lack of transport

The majority of the children presented symptoms typical of dehydration, pneumonia and malnutrition according to the Cimi team. One of the children, malnourished and suffering from pneumonia, died because there was no vehicle to transport her to a treatment unit.

 

Unnecessary deaths

The Xavante of the land Parabubure are attended by the Campinápolis post, of the Fundação Nacional de Saude (Funasa). The Post attends to a population of 5453 Indigenous Xavante of 96 villages (according to 2006 census data). In three of the micro-areas of the Post, the health teams are incomplete and lack materials and basic medicines, like dipirona [analgesic] and oral serum. In addition to this there is only one car for the work of the Post. However, during the rainy season the vehicle frequently breaks down.

In the evaluation of the missionaries working with the Xavante, if the infirmaries and doctors were able to travel to treat persons in the villages, they would be able to avoid the situation of some aggravated illnesses.

 

Deplorable

Another problem pointed to is the state of the Indian Assistance House (CASAI), where the patients and those accompanying them are lodged when they receive treatment in the city of Campinápolis. “There are not enough beds and the few that exist are in deplorable condition; the electric installations and bathrooms are dangerous; the roof has holes in it, not offering real protection when it rains”, states a Cimi memo.

 

 

José Henrique, coordinator of the Distrito Sanitário Especial Indígena (CSEI) Xavante, to which the Post is linked, informed that a general renovation of the CASAI was not anticipated because there were no funds to maintain the indigenous patients and those accompanying them in the city in the period necessary for the renovation. He affirmed that there were plans for constructing a new CASAI, but still no date. The director assumed the DSEI in December of 2008 and did not talk about the deaths because he had no information on the data presented.

 

The situation of the Xavante of Parabubure has already been denounced to the Ministério Público Federal.

 

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FEDERAL POLICE INVESTIGATE MURDER ATTEMPT OF POTIGUARA CHIEF  IN PARAÍBA

 

The Federal Police are investigating the attack against the cacique (chief) Aníbal of the Potiguara people. On March 22, during the night, he was shot in his home in the village of Jaraguá, municipality of Rio Tinto, Paraíba. The cacique is hospitalized and despite the two bullets in his body (head and lung), remains in stable condition.

 

Hooded man

On March 25 the first witnesses provided depositions to the Federal Police. According to Rita de Cássia, Aníbal’s wife, the night of the crime, two hooded men broke down the door of the family house, turned off the lights and shot various times at Aníbal, who was watching television. He was immediately taken to a hospital in João Pessoa, the state capital. The Federal Police were at the scene of the crime the night following the attack, after the Potiguara had blocked the highway BR-101, demanding speed in the investigations.

 

Sugar cane plantation

Aníbal, 43, was reelected cacique of the village of Jaraguá in February of this year and had been receiving death threats. Aníbal, the cacique Bel (Três Rios village) and the Cacique Cau (Monte Mor village) have been organizing their people for the retaking of the traditional territory of the Potiguara people, invaded by a sugar cane plantation. Bel and Cau have also received death threats.

 

The situation in the village of Jaraguá is very tense, because of this murder attempt. Potiguara leaders are acting together with the Federal Police to avoid conflicts in the area.

 

Rita de Cássia lives in fear. “Since Sunday I have not been able to sleep”. She and Aníbal have two children: Iratam, one year old, and Ibiratam, four years. Cássia affirms that during the night Ibiratam gets up crying “Mother, those men come to kill us too”.

 

(Information from Alexandre- Cimi-NE)

 

Brasília, 30th march 2009