Bolsonaro Government Transferred to Michelle's Program US$ 1.3 million that Was Donated for Covid Tests

Empresa Marfrig made a donation to the Ministry of Health, but funds went to a first lady project; Civil House does not comment

Brasília

The government of President Jair Bolsonaro passed on R $ 7.5 million donated specifically for the purchase of Covid-19 rapid tests to the Volunteer Homeland program, led by the first lady, Michelle.

On March 23, Marfrig, one of the largest beef slaughterhouses in the country, announced that it would donate this amount to the Ministry of Health to purchase 100,000 rapid tests for the new coronavirus.

Empresa Marfrig made a donation to the Ministry of Health, but funds went to a first lady project. Foto Divulgacao/Prefeitura de Santos

At that time, Brazil lacked Covid-19 tests in the first weeks of the pandemic, while the WHO (World Health Organization) advised to test the population.

Two months later, on May 20, the company said in writing to Folha, the Civil Office of the Presidency of the Republic reported that the money would be used "for the specific purpose of acquiring and applying Covid-19 tests".

On July 1, however, with the money already transferred, the Bolsonaro government consulted Marfrig on the possibility of using the money no longer for testing, but for other purposes to combat the pandemic. The resources then ended up in the Arrecadação Solidária project, linked to Pátria, by Michelle Bolsonaro.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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