Brazil Neighborhood Hires Own Medical Team to Fight Coronavirus
2020-04-12
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Emerson Barata makes a map of Sao Paulo's largest favela neighborhood, Paraisopolis.
2He then makes a mark for each known coronavirus case in the area.
3At the center of the favela of around 120,000 people, he makes four marks.
4"It's going to get a lot worse," the 34-year-old tells a medical team that has gathered.
5Barata adds another two marks to the favela's outer areas.
6He is leading the coronavirus response team in Paraisopolis.
7Along with the six confirmed cases, his team suspects another 60.
8He is not connected to the Brazilian government.
9Neither is the medical team.
10Instead, Barata is part of a group of Paraisopolis residents whose deep distrust of the government has led them to deal with the crisis themselves.
11The residents' group has hired a 24-hour private medical service, including three emergency vehicles, two doctors and two nurses.
12They have also hired drivers and support workers.
13Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has dismissed the virus as "a little influenza" and told Brazilians to get back to work.
14But Barata has stayed awake many nights trying to get his favela ready for what he describes as a "war."
15Barata did not say how much this would cost or how it was being financed.
16He only said donations have paid for some of it.
17Much of the money still needs to be raised, he said.
18The medical team is on a 30-day written agreement, which is likely to be extended.
19Luiz Carlos is a doctor who is part of the hired medical team.
20"I think it's going to get ugly," he said.
21"This is a 'little flu' that kills."
22As Barata stood outside the repair business that now serves as the medical team's base, he said, "Favelas are going to be hit the worst."
23Public health experts agree.
24The crowded living conditions, poor waste removal, lack of healthcare and other things make Brazil's favelas especially at risk for an outbreak of the virus.
25In addition, many Paraisopolis residents work in the nearby wealthy neighborhood of Morumbi, which has the highest number of infections in Brazil.
26Across Latin America, many of the cases were confirmed in people wealthy enough to travel internationally.
27But the virus is expected to hit the poorest communities the hardest.
28Brazil has the most confirmed cases of the coronavirus of any Latin American country.
29It has nearly 7,000 confirmed cases and 240 deaths so far.
30Celia Parnes is the Secretary of Social Development for the state of Sao Paulo.
31She said the government was concerned about the speed of infections in favelas and was working to help neighborhoods like Paraisopolis with free meals and financial resources.
32Parnes said public healthcare in Paraisopolis was no different from the rest of the city, claiming emergency vehicles do reach the favela.
33But she praised the work of the residents' group.
34In an emailed statement, Sao Paulo's city government said it has offered free food and other needs to residents of Paraisopolis.
35It said it also has sent around cars with loud speakers broadcasting the importance of washing hands and staying indoors.
36Sao Paulo's water and waste removal firm said it was sending 2,400 water tanks to poor neighborhoods, including Paraisopolis, to help during the health crisis.
37The population density in Paraisopolis is about the same as the Manhattan area of New York City, although most buildings are just two or three levels high.
38Residents complain that the water stops running after 8:00 at night.
39They also say garbage gets high along the wet, narrow walk areas that go through the community.
40Unofficial power here belongs to the First Capital Command, Brazil's largest and most powerful gang, known by the letters PCC.
41A member of the medical team said their work had the gang's approval.
42Reuters was not immediately able to contact any of the gang's local leaders.
43I'm Alice Bryant.
1Emerson Barata makes a map of Sao Paulo's largest favela neighborhood, Paraisopolis. He then makes a mark for each known coronavirus case in the area. At the center of the favela of around 120,000 people, he makes four marks. 2"It's going to get a lot worse," the 34-year-old tells a medical team that has gathered. Barata adds another two marks to the favela's outer areas. 3He is leading the coronavirus response team in Paraisopolis. Along with the six confirmed cases, his team suspects another 60. 4He is not connected to the Brazilian government. Neither is the medical team. Instead, Barata is part of a group of Paraisopolis residents whose deep distrust of the government has led them to deal with the crisis themselves. 5The residents' group has hired a 24-hour private medical service, including three emergency vehicles, two doctors and two nurses. They have also hired drivers and support workers. 6Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has dismissed the virus as "a little influenza" and told Brazilians to get back to work. But Barata has stayed awake many nights trying to get his favela ready for what he describes as a "war." 7Barata did not say how much this would cost or how it was being financed. He only said donations have paid for some of it. Much of the money still needs to be raised, he said. The medical team is on a 30-day written agreement, which is likely to be extended. 8Luiz Carlos is a doctor who is part of the hired medical team. "I think it's going to get ugly," he said. "This is a 'little flu' that kills." 9As Barata stood outside the repair business that now serves as the medical team's base, he said, "Favelas are going to be hit the worst." 10Public health experts agree. The crowded living conditions, poor waste removal, lack of healthcare and other things make Brazil's favelas especially at risk for an outbreak of the virus. 11In addition, many Paraisopolis residents work in the nearby wealthy neighborhood of Morumbi, which has the highest number of infections in Brazil. 12Across Latin America, many of the cases were confirmed in people wealthy enough to travel internationally. But the virus is expected to hit the poorest communities the hardest. 13Brazil has the most confirmed cases of the coronavirus of any Latin American country. It has nearly 7,000 confirmed cases and 240 deaths so far. 14Celia Parnes is the Secretary of Social Development for the state of Sao Paulo. She said the government was concerned about the speed of infections in favelas and was working to help neighborhoods like Paraisopolis with free meals and financial resources. 15Parnes said public healthcare in Paraisopolis was no different from the rest of the city, claiming emergency vehicles do reach the favela. 16But she praised the work of the residents' group. 17In an emailed statement, Sao Paulo's city government said it has offered free food and other needs to residents of Paraisopolis. It said it also has sent around cars with loud speakers broadcasting the importance of washing hands and staying indoors. 18Sao Paulo's water and waste removal firm said it was sending 2,400 water tanks to poor neighborhoods, including Paraisopolis, to help during the health crisis. 19The population density in Paraisopolis is about the same as the Manhattan area of New York City, although most buildings are just two or three levels high. Residents complain that the water stops running after 8:00 at night. They also say garbage gets high along the wet, narrow walk areas that go through the community. 20Unofficial power here belongs to the First Capital Command, Brazil's largest and most powerful gang, known by the letters PCC. 21A member of the medical team said their work had the gang's approval. Reuters was not immediately able to contact any of the gang's local leaders. 22I'm Alice Bryant. 23Reuters News Agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 24______________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26favela - n. a low- and middle-income and unregulated informal settlement neighborhood in Brazil 27response - n. something that is done as a reaction to something else 28resident - n. someone who lives in a particular place 29hire - v. to give work or a job to (someone) in exchange for wages or a salary 30outbreak - n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease 31garbage - n. things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown out 32gang - n. a group of young people who do illegal things together and who often fight against other gangs