In times of great turmoil and pain due to the loss of indigenous relatives, the manifestation of solidarity becomes essential. In order to contribute to the women and children of the Malacacheta community, Serra da Lua region, municipality of Cantá, the emergency team of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) delivered on June 20, 70 personal hygiene kits for women, 120 for children and 150 informative folders in the Wapichana language about COVID-19.
The action was developed after the community presented the demand to the CIR, according to the report of articulator Kiusylene Souza, 30, of the Wapichana ethnic group. She said that many women and children were having difficulty accessing basic personal hygiene items in the midst of the pandemic.
With 14 positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed as of June 22, the Malacacheta community has a population of 1,400 inhabitants and is in lockdown (total confinement). The action was supported by the CIR and NiaTero.
Artisan and also a practitioner of traditional remedies, Helena Paulino, Wapichana ethnic group, 49 years old, was one of those who received the kit. She emphasizes the importance of getting the delivery, which she classified as a simple gesture of love for others.
"I make the medicines here in the community, and I am happy to receive the kit, these days I am dedicating myself to making the teas, the syrups and the baths. Having received something is very important for me and for other women as well".
Fabrics and threads were also donated to encourage a group of 13 women and 12 young men and girls from the community to make masks to distribute to the residents of the locality and others as well.
The young Suliene Cruz, 22 years old, Wapichana ethnic group, highlighted that when she learned about the initiative to make masks, she proposed to help. "I became interested when I learned about the activity of producing the masks, it was a way to contribute and also do something in this difficult time for the communities"
In view of the intense concern of the CIR, in getting information from the World Health Organization (WHO) about the new coronavirus to the communities, the institution allocated informative folders about Covid-19 in the Wapichana language. The objective was to inform residents who do not speak Portuguese and also help keep the linguistic tradition of this people alive.