The novel coronavirus pandemic is suffocating the health system of the municipality of Altamira (Pará), in the Xingu region of Brazil. Health professionals and the population in general lack medicine, personal protective equipment and, above all, sufficient beds in the face of increased demand.
The city of Altamira has only nine beds in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is located 816 km from the larger city of Belém in northeastern Brazil. These beds are the only ones to meet the growing needs of 115,000 local inhabitants and of other cities in the region, which in total amount to more than 400,000 people. This includes the riverside inhabitants and indigenous people of the area who should be treated in these hospitals.
There are no more ICUs available and no tests for COVID-19. ICU beds are being used for adults. The next nearest hospital would be in Santarém, 500 km from Altamira. This is in addition to the fact that the inhabitants of this city are already suffering from impacts on their health and integrity from the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant and now from the Belo Sun mine.
Sixty-eight doctors reported this situation to the Regional Medical Council.
