AMERICA/PERU -
HIV/AIDS Virus decimates indigenous Shawi peoples in Amazon region of Peru
Lima (Agenzia Fides) - Ten members of the Pampayacu indigenous Shawi community at Charapillo, Yurimaguas, San Martín, Pongo del Cainarachi, recently died of the HIV/AIDS virus. There is concern for the remaining 70 families and the Shawi people in danger of becoming extinct.
The first cases were reported three years ago but the staff at Santa Gema auxiliary hospital in Yurimaguas gave little importance to the case and said the cause of death was a venereal disease.
Recently the local Catholic Church expressed its concern to the local people's court in San Martín reporting the negligence shown by the health authorities. A month ago the Court demanded an explanation from the hospital in Yurimaguas.
The executive director of Alto Amazonas Health Services Luis Arévalo Vásquez, gave no details with regard to the case on the grounds that he preferred not to cause alarm among the people.
(AP) (26/7/2007 Agenzia Fides; Righe:16; Parole:159)
