8^th Assembly of Indigenous Peoples of the Guajará Mirim and Nova Mamoré Region call for changes in health care and education

 

Facing a situation of neglect by authorities in both health care and education, Indigenous leaders are calling for the creation of Health District Guajara Mirim. 

 

The meeting conducted between June 15 and 18 was attended by 70 people, including indigenous residents of the city. The region of Guajará Mirim concentrates the highest indigenous presence in the state of Rondônia with a population of approximately 5000. Of the 31 villages, 24 for were represented.

 

Of immediate concern is the lack of the following:

 

·        Contracts for doctors

·        Communications equipment

·        Transport for medical teams including emergency coverage

·        Basic medicines, equipment and medical teams for CASAIs

·        Administrative coordination, unity and transparency

·        Formation of and contracts for Indigenous Health Agents (AIS-Agentes Indígenas de Saude)

·        The creation of a Guajará Health District

 

Basic infrastructure and resources that exist on paper and in standards set by government agencies fail to reach the 31 villages of the region. River communities, some of which are more than 300 km from the city, one of the difficulties emphasized in the meeting.

 

Health resources always go to the capital

Coordinator of the Organization Oro Wari, Milton Oro Nao, emphasized that health is at risk in all of the communities. “Health care is in ruins. There is no transport, for example, causing many people to die in the villages without medical attention.” According to Milton, “our greatest demand is that an indigenous health district be created in Guajará Mirim. Our resources always go to the capital, Porto Velho, and frequently do not arrive here as they should.” Milton believes that with the health district in Guajará Mirim, there would be greater transparency in the flow of resources.

 

Attention from FUNAI

Since 2006 the local indigenous movement has been calling for changes in the local administration of the Funai. In January of this year they occupied the Funai office, demanding discharge of the administrator and entire team.

 

Head office of the Funai in Brasilia had promised to name an indigenous administrator, to be voted on by the people, and requested a 20-day period to do so. This period expired quite some time ago without result.

 

Education in the Villages

The Assembly voiced continuing dissatisfaction and intent to mobilize leaders and village populations to address longstanding concerns. Among these is the absence of schools in the villages, as a result of which various students must dislocate to the cities to study. Another remaining challenge is the organization of the Upper Level of the Açai/Indigenous Teacher Training (finished four years ago). 

 

(With information from CIMI Guajará-Mirim-RO office)