At the request of the Amazonas State Department of Health in Brazil, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other disposable supplies to health units in Manaus on Friday, January 15.

ADRA is also in contact with other entities involved in the emergency response of coordinating the purchase and transport of oxygen to the capital of Amazonas.

“The need for oxygen is urgent, but the logistics take time. We cannot just wait. While the national team is taking care of the oxygen donation procedures, the regional team, in Manaus, is meeting other demands, such as the delivery of medicines and other tools ”, points out Fábio Salles, Director of ADRA in Brazil.

Since a state of emergency was declared in Amazonas, the Adventist humanitarian agency, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and regional headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has distributed more than 400 basic food baskets and hygiene kits to the most vulnerable communities. 

Early support

Experts say that poverty rates in the area will increase in the coming months. As such, ADRA has been preparing to serve impacted families and individuals.

Currently, the entity's team is looking for donors and partners to continue serving the population of the state. The #JuntosporManaus campaign was launched on Friday, aiming to raise funds to help the population.

This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site