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Pan American Health Organization provides technical support to improve the health of Yanomami indigenous peoples in Brazil
In Northern Brazil, the land of the Yanomami people extends 96,650 km2 across the states of Amazonas and Roraima, an area equivalent to the territory of Portugal. This land houses more than 31,000 inhabitants considered by the country's National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai) as “peoples of recent contact” – indigenous people who maintain selective relations with segments of society.
Reaching the Yanomamis is a challenge, deforestation and illegal mining have damaged the area over the years, making access even more difficult. In addition, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, contamination by mercury and other heavy metals have affected not only the rivers in the region, but also the soil and animals, directly impacting the indigenous’ diet, which consists mainly of fish, gathered fruits and roots, and agriculture.
This scenario has aggravated cases of malnutrition, acute respiratory infection, diarrhea, malaria and tungiasis among the Yanomami population. In response, on 20 January the Federal Government declared the Yanomami situation in Brazil a Public Health Emergency of National Concern.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has been providing technical support in the response to the emergency since 15 January, when a PAHO team participated in an investigative mission to deepen the understanding of the situation and identify emergency health care needs.
In response to cases of malnutrition, the Brazilian Ministry of Health carried out, with the support of the Integral Medicine Institute Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP) and PAHO, a training for professionals who are working in this area. The first one was on measuring arm circumference – a simple and effective malnutrition screening for children– and a second one included nutrition assessment, treatment and monitoring.
Through the partnership, a workshop was also held on the preparation of therapeutic milk (water, powdered milk, sugar, oil, electrolyte, and micronutrient solution) for malnourished children. As a strategy to increase acceptance of this milk among the Yanomami, local foods such as açai and banana were included in the formula. The involvement of indigenous health agents helped in the process.
To fight malaria, PAHO has worked with the Ministry of Health in actions for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of the disease at the Yanomami DSEI – including through the use of a rapid test for detection using blood drops. The Organization has also supported the mobilization of a team of technical experts in malaria control.
This set of measures, coordinated by the Ministry of Health and other national and subnational authorities seeks to both reduce the immediate impact of the emergency and to strengthen healthcare services in indigenous communities to prevent future emergencies.
Available at: www.paho.org/en/stories/paho-provides-technical-support-improve-health-yanomami-indigenous-
peoples-brazil Accessed: March 31, 2023.
“This scenario has aggravated cases of malnutrition, acute respiratory infection, diarrhea, malaria and tungiasis among the Yanomami population.”
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