Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - In the world Brazil is second only to India for the number of reported cases of leprosy. This factor is associated with serious social and economic problems and precarious living conditions of millions of people.
A land of incredible contrasts which in the south produces cars, aircraft, chemicals and the most technologically advanced weapons with which it successfully competes on the world market, whereas in the north production methods and situations of exploitation almost unchanged since colonial times. Brazil’s economy is among the leading ten in the world but nevertheless there is considerable social-economic unbalance. An estimated 42 million Brazilians live in situations of extreme poverty. The illiteracy rate is high and only 65% of the population has access to sufficient clean water and only 44% has adequate drains. Brazil still has high rates of death due to infective and parasitic diseases. Out of every 1000 new born babies 32 die at birth. The country’s social conditions and precarious health system do not help reduce the annual number of new cases of leprosy.
To tackle the situation the Italian Association Friends of Raoul Foillerau is promoting programmes for basic healthcare and to fight leprosy promoting community development, rehabilitation and support for children at risk. In 2005 AIFO is sponsoring 27 programmes.
This Latin American country has a variety of regions. In the north the Amazon basin with plains and equatorial forests and great rivers, a region subject to de-forestation which has destroyed the habitat of many animals and plants and weakened the indigenous peoples, and the region of the Carajas Mountains with one of the world most consistent mineral formations. In the north east a rocky high plain where cattle raising is dominant and the coastal band with plantations of sugar cane and cacao. The south east area is the most economically developed producing coffee, maize and sugar cane. The extreme south and central western part of the country, important for cattle raising. For information see www.aifo.it. (AP) (26/4/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:32 Parole:374)
