URGENT #MayaVoice Mexico Health Campaign COVID-19
UNITED WE FIGHT THE PANDEMIC
More than ever needed understanding and respect of non-indigenous people Indigenous people are highly vulnerable to viruses that cause infectious diseases, because they have no immunity to viruses (Ex. Indigenous people made up a disproportionate number of deaths in Canada during the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009. At one point, two-thirds of all patients on ventilators in Manitoba were indigenous
Living conditions common in indigenous communities demand special attention on the part of health authorities, governments, and local administrative governance (Given the advance of the new coronavirus in Latin America, the most vulnerable are indigenous peoples, who represent almost 10% of the population. A Latin America where, according to the UN, three out of every 10 people in extreme poverty are indigenous)
Don’t have access to health and other services, key services such as water and housing (Indigenous communities are making 15% of the world poorest people)
May not be able to leave affected area
May experience stigma, marginalization and discrimination in health care setting including medications, masks, disinfectants and other equipment needed to fight the virus
Information are not translated into Maya language (women are more monolingual)
Hygiene: Bottled water, soap, alcohol, drinking water advisories
Isolation of elderly who are the most vulnerable group with higher fatality rate
Isolation of people with preexisting medical conditions
Anxiety can increase domestic violence, alcoholism and suicides (highest rate in Playa del Carmen)
Young children as the ones who can transmit the virus might find it difficult to understand the information related covid19
Gender sensitivity; women as health force
Transportation and logistics; there are no hospitals with adequate equipment to fight covid19; there are no hospitals in communities at all
Social distancing as a challenge; families live all together