"We Went Beyond What We Are Obliged to Do", Says Bolsonaro about Lack of Oxygen in Manaus

President says there was no official letter from state officials about lack of oxygen, but minister was warned of the shortage by the government of Amazonas and the company that supplies the product

Brasília

President Jair Bolsonaro (no party) said on Wednesday (27) that the federal government exceeded its obligation in the collapse of public health in Manaus. The crisis broke out on January 14, when the lack of oxygen in city hospitals led to the death of patients with Covid-19.

"There wasa health issue [in Manaus]: we gave money, resources and means. No one alerted us on the state of the issue of oxygen. It was Friday [ 8] fromWhite Martins [a provider of hospital oxygen]. On Monday, [11] the minister [of Health, Eduardo Pazuello] was there. Currently, the issue has stabilized there. The state must have people who can predict when something will be missing or not, to take action. We exceeded our obligations there," declared the president, in conversation with supporters in front of the Palácio da Alvorada. The president's speech was broadcast on a Bolsonaro website.

Despite Bolsonaro's assertion that there was no official letter from state authorities, Minister Pazuello was warned about the critical shortage of oxygen in Manaus by members of the government of Amazonas, by the company that supplies the product and even by his sister-in-law who had a family member “without enough oxygen to last the day.”

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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