UNITED NATIONS, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is working with national and local authorities in Brazil and Ecuador to curb the spread of COVID-19 among indigenous peoples, especially in the Amazon and other native regions, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.
In Brazil, according to official figures, there are 139 confirmed cases and eight deaths among indigenous peoples, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday showed 107,780 cases of COVID-19 in Brazil with 7,321 deaths, and 31,881 cases in Ecuador with 1,569 deaths.
The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the WHO's regional office for the Americas, is supporting Brazil's plan to curb the spread of the virus, including boosting surveillance of severe respiratory and flu syndromes, training health teams and conducting outreach in several languages, Dujarric said.
Working with Brazil's health ministry, the PAHO is monitoring cases of the virus among indigenous peoples and supporting the flu vaccination campaign.
Also in Brazil, the UN Women is monitoring the impact of the pandemic on indigenous women. It is working for their inclusion in the decision-making process related to the pandemic, as well as ensuring adequate health care, the spokesman said.
The UN Women is focusing on pregnant women and the prevention of gender-based violence, according to the spokesman.
In Ecuador, the UN team has purchased chlorine for water treatment and disinfection of health facilities, and the world body is supporting a radio campaign in both Spanish and Kichwa to reach indigenous communities, said Dujarric. Enditem
