Prominent artists, Indigenous advocates, and government officials in Brazil are calling on individuals to donate to a fund that will support the son of the late Amazon activist Bruno Pereira, who has been diagnosed with an uncommon type of cancer.
In June 2022, Bruno Pereira, an anthropologist, was ambushed and killed in the western Amazon along with British journalist Dom Phillips. Beatriz Matos, Pedro Pereira’s mother, received notification that her five-year-old son was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma last year.
After undergoing chemotherapy for five months, he needs to undergo treatment with the medication Qarziba, which is not covered by Brazil’s public health system, Sus. Each dose of this medication costs approximately 88,000 reais (£14,200, $18,000).
A crowdfunding effort called #SavePedro is seeking to collect 2 million reais in order to secure the necessary treatment for the young boy’s survival.
Prominent individuals such as Sônia Guajajara, the minister for Indigenous peoples, filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, and Xuxa Meneghel, a popular TV presenter in Brazil, have used social media to promote the campaign and encourage donations. They also acknowledge Pereira’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding the Amazon and its Indigenous communities.
Beto Marubo, a leader of the Indigenous community in the Javari valley and a close friend of the activist who was killed, expressed his regret for not being able to support his friend’s father in defending their land. However, he is now asking for assistance in ensuring proper care and protection for Pereira’s son.
“This is extremely sad, we’re talking about a child who is five years old, after everything that happened with his father,” added Marubo, who is the young boy’s godfather.
According to Sônia Bridi, a journalist who oversaw the creation of the documentary “Valley of the Isolated,” Little Pedro’s father was killed as a result of the Brazilian government’s negligence. It is important to not let Bruno’s son suffer the same fate due to inaction.
Bridi expressed her sadness at the fact that a mother is facing the loss of her husband and also having to cope with her young son’s severe illness at the same time. Bridi has been supporting the family throughout Pedro’s treatment and believes that the ongoing crowdfunding campaign could potentially lead to wider access to the necessary medication through the Sus and other healthcare plans.
Phillips’ relatives have joined the internet efforts to promote the campaign, which has already received over 10,000 commitments.
Last year, three fishermen were arrested and accused of killing Pereira and Phillips. They are currently incarcerated, awaiting a jury trial.
Source: theguardian.com
