MP investigates possible negligence in monitoring Yanomami children with malnutrition in AM

The information gathered by the Public Ministry points to evidence that, after returning to the villages, some children may not have received continuous nutritional and assistance monitoring. According to the investigation, the lack of permanent monitoring and regular visits by multidisciplinary indigenous health teams may have contributed to them returning to the same conditions of food vulnerability that caused the illness. Lack of information from the DSEI Another point highlighted by the MP is the lack of responses from the Yanomami Special Indigenous Health District (DSEI) to the requests made by the Prosecutor's Office during the preliminary investigation. According to the ordinance opening the investigation, even after requests sent in January, March and May of this year, the body did not send the technical information and documents considered essential to clarify the facts. “In view of the elements already collected during the preliminary investigation, the Public Prosecutor's Office opened a civil investigation to deepen the investigation, verify the possible existence of flaws in the assistance provided by the competent bodies and monitor the measures adopted to guarantee the continuity of care for these children and prevent the occurrence of new cases”, stated prosecutor Taize Siqueira. Measures determined As the first steps, the Public Ministry determined that the DSEI Yanomami present, within 15 days, documents proving: Monitoring of children after hospital discharge, with nutritional progress forms and medical records; The number of professionals working in the Marauiá River region; The 2026 Yanomami Child Malnutrition Contingency and Combating Plan; The availability of nutritional formulas and other inputs; The schedule of visits by health teams to the villages. Hospital Irmã Edwiges Maria Sikorska and the Municipal Health Department must also inform whether there were new cases of Yanomami children with severe malnutrition or respiratory complications between March and July this year, in addition to clarifying whether there is a communication protocol with the DSEI at the time of hospital discharge to ensure continuity of treatment. Also officiating were the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai), the Yanomami Indigenous Health District Council (Condisi), the Guardianship Council and the Social Assistance Reference Center (Cras) of Santa Isabel do Rio Negro. The bodies must present information on the food security of communities and the social support of families during the treatment of children sent to Manaus. According to the prosecutor, the objective of the investigation is to ensure that children continue to receive nutritional and health assistance after leaving the hospital, preventing them from returning to the vulnerable conditions that led to malnutrition.