• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: Lack of Oxygen to Treat Patients in Manaus (Brazil: UA 5.21)

January 19, 2021

Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas State, is facing a health crisis due to a spike in COVID-19 infections coupled with what health workers, media outlets and state officials have labeled as a critical lack of oxygen to treat patients currently hospitalized. Other cities and states nearby could also be at risk of facing a similar situation. Despite an initial supply of oxygen by the federal government, authorities must ensure its continued supply and other equipment needed to guarantee the right to health of the people of Manaus.

TAKE ACTION:
  1. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  2. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 5.21. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Eduardo Pazuello Minister of Health Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco G. Brasília, Distrito Federal – Brazil. CEP: 70.058-900 Email: [email protected]
Ambassador Nestor Forster Jr. Embassy of Brazil 3006 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20008 Phone: 202 238 2700 I Fax: 202 238 2827 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @BrazilinUSA Facebook: @BrazilianEmbassy Instagram: @brazilinusa Salutation: Dear Ambassador

SAMPLE LETTER Dear Minister Pazuello, I am writing to express my concern regarding the current situation in the hospitals of Manaus. The city is facing a spike in COVID-19 infections, hospitals at maximum capacity, and a lack of oxygen to treat patients. While the federal government has now sent oxygen tanks to the city, these are insufficient to meet current demand. Other cities and states in nearby regions could also be at risk of facing a similar situation. I call upon you to take all the necessary steps to guarantee the right to health of patients in the city of Manaus and other cities in nearby regions that could face similar risks, by ensuring that they are equipped with an adequate supply of oxygen and other necessary medical supplies, and by using maximum available resources to ensure that proper treatment is provided based on international scientific standards. Yours sincerely, [YOUR NAME] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES