At least 34 indigenous people report symptoms of tuberculosis in the state of Sucre

• They do not rule out that more sick people will join

At least 34 Warao indigenous people from the María López hamlet, in Guariquen, in the Benítez municipality of Sucre state, are being treated at the Environmental Health department, former Malariology, in Carúpano, for suspected tuberculosis.

According to local media The Timethis group of people moved to the place, which is a kind of churuata, on their own, with the support of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, after presenting some symptoms of the disease.

“We came to be treated, to have exams, x-rays and sputum tests. The suspicion is that it is tuberculosis,” explained the village chief, Antonio García, who specified that the indigenous people mobilized due to the lack of attention from the local authorities and the health area.

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After they settled in the place, they were treated by the local health bodies and officials from the ministries of Ecosocialism, Culture and Indigenous Peoples.

Likewise, he specified that the relevant blood and sputum tests, as well as García mentioned that it is presumed that other patients from nearby hamlets may join, who also require attention.

Effort in the transfer

García clarified that “they made a great effort” to transfer the patients due to the symptoms they presented, such as chronic cough, fever and headaches.

“We had time calling the institutions to meet and see how we could bring a medical team to Guariquen and we have not been able to. That’s why we took the initiative to come here,” he stressed.

He expressed that they ask the authorities to remain under epidemiological surveillance and hospitalized in a suitable place. In addition, he mentioned that they need a good diet to comply with the treatment.

Yanomami deaths from tuberculosis

The non-governmental organization (NGO) Horonami reported the death of 260 Yanomami between January 2023 and March 2024 due to different diseases, including tuberculosis.

“Many of our brothers and sisters have died during the last year from malaria, tuberculosis, malnutrition and other diseases that we do not know about,” the organization wrote in a letter addressed to Gabriela Jiménez, vice minister of Science, Technologies, Education and Health, on the 18th. of March.

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Likewise, the NGO Kapé Kapé mentioned that apart from these diseases, the Yanomami reported a lack of medicines.

Tuberculosis is a disease that also affects prisoners in different detention centers in the country, a situation that has been denounced by several organizations.

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