In view of the omission of the public authorities in preventing and combating covid-19, the Salve Krahô campaign was created through an articulation between the Krahô leaders from different villages and our non-indigenous partners, with the aim of strengthening actions to prevent and combat Covid-19.
We are a voluntary and non-profit support network, led by two indigenous associations: Hôxwa (of Manoel Alves village) and Centro Cultural Kajre (of Pedra Branca village). The fundraising for the campaign is done through donations and sponsorship. The collection of resources is done monthly on our website, together with an account of the activities carried out.
So far, our main actions have been:
Structuring and maintaining a sanitary barrier
The Ribeirão dos Cavalos barrier is located at one of the main entrances of the Krahô’s territory, by the municipality of Itacajá. The objective of the barrier is to control and monitor people entering and leaving the area, in addition of cleaning materials and vehicles.
Production of educational materials
Booklets and videos were produced, in Portuguese and in the kraho language, with the purpose of circulating information about the main ways of prevention, identification and control of the disease in the communities. These materials circulate through WhatsApp networks and are also printed and delivered to the villages.
Support for the work of Indigenous Health Agents
The support to these agents is done through the production of informative material, in addition to weekly meetings, with the objective of assisting in the monitoring and follow-up of suspected and confirmed cases in the villages. The campaign was also set up to obtain cleaning materials (masks, soap, alcohol gel) and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Articulation with governmental and non-governmental organizations
The campaign has been working with FUNAI, SESAI / DSEIs, city councils and MPF, as well as other non-governmental organizations (CIMI, CTI, EDS), seeking to articulate (and also to request for) important demands, for example: a house for isolation in the city; data transparency by DSEIs; better conditions of health treatment; and the construction of an Indigenous Primary Care Unit (UAPI).